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A 


ACCOUNT 

OF 

ALGIERS, 

CONTAINING 

A DESCRIPTION 

OF  THE 

CLIMATE  of  that  country,. 

OF  THB 

MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS'- 

OF  THE. 

INHABITANTS, 

4£ND  OF  THEIR  SEVERAL  WARS  AGAINST  SPAIN* 
fRANCE,  ENGLAND,  HOLLAND,  VENICE,  AND 
OTHER  POWERS  OF  EUROPE,  FROM 
THE  USURPATION  OF  BARBAROSSA 
AND  THE  INVASION  OF  THE 
EMPEROR  CHARLES  V.  TO 
THE  PRESENT  TIME; 

WITH  A CONCISE 

VIEW  OF  THE  ORIGIN 
OF  THE  RUPTURE, 

BETWEEN 

ALGIERS  and  the  UN  ITED  ST  ATES, 


Aut  blfce  fellus  in  ■patulos  fpccusy 
jZtLerrae  jiavrmis  perde  fequacibus 
tLurptt  coJon&s,  AFRICANiE 
Dedecusi  •pprabriumquc  terra* 


Bochanaw# 


— 1 ■ — ■■■■  -p— T 

PHILADELPHIA  : 


(dated  by  J.  Parker  for  M.  Carey,  N°.  1 18,  Market-ftjreefc 

January  8,  1 7QjD 


Number  LII. 

Diftrift:  of  Pennfylvania,  to  wiN-^ 

■(L.  S.)  T3  E it  remembered , that  cn  the  eighth  day  of 
JO?  'January , in  the  eighteenth  year  of  the  in- 
dependence of  the  united Jlaies  of  America , Mathew  Carey , 
of  the  J'aid  difrift , hath  depofited  in  this  office , the  title  of 
a book , right  whereof  he  claims  as  proprietor , in  the 

words  following , twV  ; 

“ yf  fhort  account  of  Algiers , containing  a defeription  of 
<c  the  climate  of  that  country,  of  the  manners  and  cufloms 
u of  the  inhabitants , of  their  federal  wars  againjl 

“ Spain,  France,  England,  Holland,  Venice  and  other  pova- 
<c  m ft/"  Europe,  from  the  ufurpation  of  Barbaroffa  and  the 
“ invafion  of  the  emperor  Charles  V.  to  the  prefent  time , 
“ with  a concife  view  of  the  origin  of  the  rupture  between 
tc  Algiers  and  the  united fates”  In  conformity  to  the  aft 
of  the  congrefs  of  the  united  fates,  intituled,  “ An  aft  for 
“ the  encouragement  of  learning ; by  fecuring  the  copies  of 
maps , charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  cf 
fuch  copies  during  the  time  therein  mentioned.” 

1 4 

SAMUEL  CALDWELL,  Clerk  of 

tjxe  difrift  of  Pennfylvania,- 


SHORT  ACCOUNT,  & c. 


Chap.  I. 


General  defcription  of  the  country  of  Algiers..  Clima'Sj. 

Sca-Coajl.  Principal  cities. 

.Algiers  is  a countrv,which  derives  its  name  from 
its  metropolis  ; and  extends  four  hundred  and  eighty 
miles  in  length  from  ealt  to  weft  along  the  northern  coaft 
of  Africa.  Its  utmofl  breadth  is  three  hundred  and 
twentymileSjbut  at  the  diftance  of  an  hundred  miles  from 
thefea-coaft,  that  part  of  Africa  becomes  a barren  defert, 
almoft  utterly  uninhabitable  either  by  man  or  beaft.  Al- 
giers is  fituated  between  thirty-two  and  thirt«y-feven  de- 
grees of  north  latitude,  which  correfponds  to  that  of  the 
United  States,  from  Virginia  to  Carolina,  inclufive.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Mediterranean  fea  ; on 
the  fouth,  by  mount  Atlas  ; on  the  eaft,  by  the  country 
of  Tunis  ; and  on  the  weft,  by  the  river  Mulvia,  which 
feparates  it  from  the  empire  of  Morocco, 

The  principal  rivers,  which  water  the  territory  of 
Algiers,  rife  in  Mount  Atlas,  and  run  by  a northerly 
direction  into  the  Mediterranean  fea.  They  are  feven 
in  number.  None  of  them  has  a long  courfe,  or  even 
is  navigable ; at  leaft  none  of  them  is  made  ufe  of  in 
navigation.  It  is  however  likely  that  they  might  be 
employed  for  this  purpofe,  were  the  inhabitants  of  a 
more  intelligent  and  indu.ftrious  character ; for  fome 
of  them  are  of  a tolerable  depth.  Such  is  the  grofs 
ignorance  of  the  natives  in  whatever  concerns  domeftic 
improvement,  that  there  is  not  a Angle  bridge  over  any 
.of  rhefe  rivers.  When  they  are  to  be  crofted,  the  tra- 
veller hath  fometimes  to  wander  for  feveral  miles  in 
fearch  of  a ford,  as  ferry-boats  are  unknown.  If  a hea- 
vy rain  happens  to  fall,  he  is  forced  to  wait,  till  the 
liver  returns  to  its.ufual  fize* 


f 2 } 

This  country  confiffs  of  eighteen  provinces.  The' 
climate  is  remarkably  delightful.  The  air  is  pure  and 
ferene.  The  foil  is  covered  with  almoft  a perpetual 
verdure.  Extreme  heat  is  not  common.  This  defcrip* 
tion  applies  to  the  lands  on  the  fea-coaft  ; for  as  we 
advance  into  the  country,  the  foil  becomes  more  parched 
and  barren.  Indeed  a confiderable  part  of.the  back 
country  is  a favage  defert,  abounding  with  lions,  tigers, 
leopards,  buffaloes,  wild  boars,  and  porcupines.  And 
it  muff  be  acknowledged,  that  thefe  animals  are  not  the 
Jieaff  amiable  inhabitants  of  this  country. 

^ There  are  few  toVrils  of  any  confequence,  though 
tyhen  fucceffively  under  the  dominion  of  Carthage  and 
Rome,  it  abounded  with  populous  cities.  Bona  isfup- 
pofed  to  be  the  fame  place  with  the  ancient  Hippo,  a 
fea-port  built  by  the  ancients.  It  was  formerly  the  ca- 
pital of  the  province  of  Bona.  It  lies  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean fea,  and  thefe  is  a coral  fifhery  near  it.  It  is  a 
town  of  no  importance,  and  of  {lender  population.  In 
this  part  of  the  world,  elegant  architecture,  has,  for 
many  centuries  been  utterly  forgotten  or  defpifed.  The 
buildings  of  Bona,  as  every  where  elfe,  are  therefore 
mean.  It  is  expofed  to  the  incurfions  of  the  Arabs. 
The  name  of  this  people  is  ufed  by  travellers  in  a very 
indefinite  manner.  Algiers  is  at  the  diftance  of  fome 
hundreds  of  leagues  from  Arabia : but  as  this  part  of 
Africa  was  formerly  conquered  by  that  nation,  under 
the  banners  of  Mahomet,  the  name  is  ftili  applied  to  a 
face  of  tawny  and  independent  barbarians,  who  wander 
in  gangs  about  the  country,  and  unite  the  double  pro- 
feffions  of  a Ihephefd  and  a robber.  Bona  was  formerly 
1 magnificent  city.  Its  grandeur  is  now  only  to  be 
traced  in  the  ruins  of  a monaftery.  It  has  a fortrefs, 
and  a gafrifon  of  three  hundred  Turks,  as  the  banditti 
Chufe  to  call  themfelves ; a Turk  being  the  moft  repu- 
table title  in  that  country.  This  circumftance  is  alone 
fufficient  to  afcertain  the  depth  of  its  wfetchednefs. 
Thefe  adventurers  however  are  not  Turks,  but  the  { weep- 
ings of  all  nations  blended  together.  They  are  com- 
manded by  an  aga,  who  is  likewife  governor  of  the 
town-  Bona  was  taken  by  Charles  V.  in  his  expedition. 


f n 

.to  Tunis,  but  was  not  long  after  recovered  by  its  fo?« 

.jner  matters. 

Conttantina  is  fituated  on  the  river  Sef  Gomar,  fort 
ty  eight  miles  from  the  fea-coaft.  It  received  its  prefent 
name  from  that  of  a princefs,  the  daughter  of  the  emt 
peror  Conttantine,  to  whom  it  was  indebted  for  magr 
nificence.  The  fituation  is  on  a peninfula,  difficult  of 
accefs,  except  towards  the  fouth.weft.  It  is  one  mi!$ 
in  circumference,  well  fortified,  and  contains  many 
fragments  of  ancient  architecture.  In  particular  there 
is  part  of  a noble  bridge ; and  near  it,  is  a large 
fubterraneous  aquedubt,  which  terminates  in  a cafcade* 
State  criminals  are  fometimes  precipitated  down  this 
place,  and  dallied  to  pieces  againtt  the  rocks  at  its  botf 
tom.  A bey  refides  here,  and  has  under  his  command 
three  hundred  Turkifh  horfe,  and  one  thoufand  five 
hundred  Mooritti  foldiers.  This  is  the  account  given 
by  travellers,  though  it  is  not  likely  that  the  number  of 
the  garrifon  is  always  the  fame.  In  details  of  this  kind. 
We  mutt  be  contented  with  the  beft  materials  that  can 
be  had,  though  fometimes  not  entirely  above  exception. 
The  inhabitants  of  Conttantina,  are  faid  to  be  opulent 
and  haughty.  This  city  was  formerly  the  refidence  of 
a race  of  kings  who  governed  the  province  of  Conttan- 
tina, of  which  it  is  the  metropolis ; but  in  the  year  1520, 
the  whole  territory  was  conquered  by  Barbaroffa,  that 
diftinguiihed  fcourge  of  mankind,  who  annexed  it  to 
the  government  of  Algiers.  Some  fplendid  ruins  exiit 
in  the  vicinity  of  Conttantina.  Upon  the  fea-coatt,  at 
■a  fmall  dittance  from  it,  are  the  traces  of  a Roman  co- 
lony, antiently  called  Colo.  It  is  fituated  on  a high 
rock,  and  has  a garrifon.  Adjoining  to  it  is  a French 
factory,  to  which  the  Moors  bring  hides,  wax,  and  wool, 
for  fale.  At  no  great  dittance  are  the  remains  of  the 
ancient  city  of  Stora.  It  is  faid  that  the  mountainous 
part  of  this  territory  is  inhabited  by  a hardy  people,  who 
can  raife  forty  thoufand  fighting  men.  It  is  not  proba- 
ble, that  thofe  writers  who  made  this  affertion  had  ever 
an  opportunity  of  counting  their  number,  fliftory 
abounds  with  fiich  random  calculations.  The  vagabond 
who  founded  Rome  has  been  fupplied  by  the  geaerofity 


< 4 y 

Cff  fucceeding  hiftorians,  with  an  army  about'  equally 
humerous, though  it  is,  at  the  fame  time, acknowledged* 
that  his  kingdom  was  only  feven  or  eight  miles  in  length. 

Gigeri  is  fituated  about  fifteen  miles  from  Bona.  It 
contains  about  fifteen  hundred  houfes,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants are  very  poor.  It  is  defended  by  a fort  and  a fmall 
^arrifon.  The  natives  of  this  part  of  the  country  are 
independent  and  barbarous.  They  retire,  when  circurn- 
fiances  require  it,  to  inacceftible  faftneifes,  and  fet  the 
dey  of  Algiers  at  defiance.  Ships,  when  wrecked 
on  this  coaft,  are  plundered,  and  the  crews  are  treated 
with  the  utmofl  favagenefs.  In  this  refpeft,  however, 
the  natives  of  the  territory  of  Gigeri  cannot  differ  much 
for  the  worfe  from  the  refl  of  their  countrymen  ; nor 
is  the  pra&ice  peculiar  to  Barbary.  Scenes  of  the  fame- 
kind  are  frequently  a£Ied,  and  if  any  thing  can  be  Hill 
more  infamous,  are  .almofl  always  aded  with  impunity, 
on  the  coaft  of  Cornwall,  and  other  maritime  counties 
of  England.*  The  French,  in  the  year  1666,  had  be- 
gun to  fortify  Gigeri.  They  were  driven  from  it  by  the 
j(Ugerines,  with  the  lofs  of  their  cannon,  and  molt  of 
their  effects. 

. Bugia,  was  formerly  the  capital  of  a kingdom  of  the 
fame  name.  It  ftands  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Major, 
or  Zinganor,  about  twenty  leagues  to  the  eaftwaid  of 
Algiers.  It  is  little  better  than  a heap  of  ruins ; a de- 
fcription  which  applies  to  almoft  every  town  in  that  part 
of  the  world.  It  has  three  caftles,  two  at  the  port,  and 
one  upon  a rock,  at  a fmall  diftance  behind  them.  In. 
the  year  1671,  a Britifh  admiral  took  or  deftroyed,  in 
this  harbour,  nine  Algerine  fhips  of  war.  It  is  extremely 
■feldom,  that  an  admiral  has  been  charged  with  fuch  a 
laudable  commiffion. 

Stelfa  or  Steffa,  is  fituated  in  a fertile  valley,  fixty 
miles  to  the  fouth  of  Bugia,  and  fifteen  miles  from  the 
lea.  It  exhibits  only  the  melancholy  ruins  of  its  formeT 

* There  is  a ftory  of  an  Englith  parfon,  whofe  congrega- 
tion, during  the  time  of  divine  fervice,  heard  of  a fh  ip  wreck* 
In  fpite  of  his  utmoft  effo  ts  to  detain  them,  the  whole  alfeni- 
bly  rulhed  out  of  church,  1 n a body,  to  divide  the  plunder* 


C 5 ? 

magnificence,  containing  about  three  hundred  mlferabhS . 
families. 

Tebef  was  formerly  a flourilhing  city,  but  is  at  prefent 
extremely  reduced.  Zamoura  is  in  the  fame  condition.,. 
It  is  defended  by  a fort.  Couco  was  once  the  me. 
tropolis  of  a kingdom  of  the  fame  name.  Its  fovereigns 
were  in  the  habit  of  forming  alliances  with  the  court 
of  Spain.  For  this  reafon,  the  Algerines,  in  the  be* 
ginning  of  the  feventeenth  century,  ravaged  the  whole 
country,  and  dertroyed  every  town  in  it.  The  inhabi* 
tants  have  (till  fupported  their  independence,  by  taking 
refuge  in  the  mountainous  parts  of  the  country,  which 
are  faid  to  be  very  fertile  ; but  the  Algerines  prevent 
them  from  holding  any  intercourfe  with  foreign  nations.. 
Bifcara,  has  a fort  and  garrifon.  One  of  the  chief  em- 
ployments of  the  people  here,  is  to  catch  and  tame  lions, 
tygers,  and  other  hearts  of  prey,  which  they  carry  for 
fale  to  Algiers.  Necanz,  is  one  of  the  pleafanteft  towns 
in  Barbary.  It  is  watered  by  an  agreeable  river,  \vhofe 
banks  are  adorned  with  a variety  of  beautiful  trees* 
The  town  contains  a magnificent  mofque  and  a college 
for  the  education  of  Mahometan  ftudents. 

Oran  is  fituated  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
well  of  Algiers.  It  lies  partly  on  a plain,  and  partly  on 
the  afcent  of  a hill.  It  is  a mile  and  an  half  in  circum* 
ference  and  tolerably  fortified.  But  it  is  unfortunately 
commanded  by  fome  of  the  neigbouring  eminences;  1 o 
that  a garrifon  of  ten  or  twelve  thoufand  men  is  neceflary 
to  defend  it  with  fuccefs  againft  a fkilful  enemy.  As  the 
Spanifh  coafts  and  merchant  flfips  had  fuffered  much 
from  the  corfairs  of  this  port,  Ferdinand  king  of 
Spain,  determined  to  attempt  its  reduction.  For  this, 
purpofe,  he  tranfported  into  Africa  an  army,  under  the 
command  of  his  prime  minifter  cardinal  Ximenes,  one 
of  thofe  few  rtatefmen,  who  have  not  deferved  the  de- 
teftation  of  mankind.  The  wonted  good  fortune  of 
Ximenes,  did  not,  at  this  jun&ure,  defert  him.  He  had 
maintained  a correfpondence  with  fome  of  the  people 
of  Oran  ; and  when  the  Moors  fallied  out  to  attack  the 
Spanifh  army,  their  perfidious  countrymen  (hut  the  gates 
agaiart  them.  Ximenes  killed  four  thoufand  of  th$ 


'fcarbarlans,  and  fet  at  liberty  twenty  thoufand  Ch  rift  ran 
ilaves.  The  Algerines,  during  almoft  two  hundred 
years,  made  frequent  and  unfuccefsful  attempts  to  reco- 
ver the  town.  At  laft,  in  1708,  they  retook  it.  In  June, 
1732,  a Spanifh  army  was  difembarked  not  far  from 
Oran.  The  Turkish  commander,  his  troops,  and  the 
inhabitants  were  feized  with  a panic,  and  abandoned 
their  fortifications  without  much  refinance.  The  victors 
found  in  the  place  an  hundred  and  forty  fix  pieces  or 
cannon,  befides  mortars,  and  at  lead  fifty  fhip  loads  of 
provifions.  This  latter  fupply  contributed  much  to 
the  prefervation  of  their  new  conqueft.  Without  it 
they  mud  have  run  the  greated  hazard  of  perifhingia 
the  midd  of  fuccefs ; as  a temped,  which  lafted  for  ie- 
veral  days,  cut  off  all  intercourfe  between  the  army  upon 
(hore,  and  tire  fleet  at  fea.  The  Moors  not  long  after 
attacked  the  Spaniards  with  great  fury,  but  were  finally 
repulfed  with  much  daughter  on  both  fides.  Oran  is 
dill  poifeded  by  Spain. 

Tremefen  was  formerly  the  capital  town  of  a kingdom 
©f  that  name.  It  is  dtuated  ninety  miles  fouth-wed  of 
Oran,  furrounded  by  a drong  wall  and  well  fortified. 
It  has  five  gates  with  draw-bridges  before  them,  and  a 
cable  containing  handfome  barracks  for  the  Janifaries 
who  are  in  garrifon.  Tremefen  while  a metropolis  was 
a fplendid  city.  It  contained  one  hundred  and  fifty 
mofques,  and  one  hundred  and  fixty  public  baths.  Since 
it  ceafed  to  be  the  feat  of  an  independent  government, 
it  hath  fhrunk  into  ruins  and  defolation.  The  mofques 
are  reduced  to  eight,  and  its  public  baths  to  four.  The 
inhabitants  are  extremely  indigent. 

Modagan,  Hands  fifty  miles  ead  of  Oran.  This 
town  is  built  in  the  form  of  a theatre  opening  to  the 
fea,  and  furrounded  on  every  other  fide  with  rocks  that 
hang  over  it.  The  ruins  of  an  old  Moorifh  cable  band 
in  a fpace  between  the  rocks,  and  there  is  a drong  done' 
wall  towards  the  port,  with  a modern  built  cable,  gar- 
rifoned  by  a number  of  Turks.  The  citadel  is  ere&ed 
upon  the  fummit  of  one  of  the  rocks,  and  commands 
both  city  and  territory.  The  haven  is  commodious, 
and  the  town  is  well  fupplied  with  water.  The  neigh 


C 1 > 

louring  mountains  are  inhabited  by  a people  called 
Magarabas,  who  live  in  tents,  pofTefs  a great  number 
of  flocks,  and  pay  to  the  dey  of  Algiers  twelve  thou- 
sand crowns  annually.  There  is  a handfome  mofque  in 
this  town. 

Tenez,  is  fituated  about  one  hundred  miles  to  the 
eaflward  of  Oran,  twenty  miles  eafl  of  Moitagan,  and 
at  a league  did  ant  from  the  fea,  where  it  has  a convenient 
port.  There  is  a cattle  that  was  once  a royal  palace, 
and  in  which  the  governor  refides.  The  fortifications 
are  flrong,  the  gafrifon  numerous,  and  the  neighbour*- 
ing  territory  fertile.  This  was  fuppofed  to  have  been 
the  Julia  Cadarea  of  the  ancients. 

Sercelli,  lies  between  Tenez  and  Algiers,  about  twen- 
ty four  miles  to  the  weflward  of  the  latter.  It  is  de- 
fended by  a Turkifh  garrifon,  and  has  a port,  which 
Will  only  admit  of  fmall  veflfels.  This  was  antiently  a 
large  and  populous  city,  but  is  at  prefent  a poor  and 
fiefolafe  place. 

The  fouthern  part  of  the  Algerine  territories,  is  in- 
habited by  a wandering  race  of  people,  who  like  the 
Tartars,  roam  from  place  to  place,  and  live  in  tents* 
The  country  itfelf  is  hilly,.a  branch  of  mount  Atlas  run- 
ning through  it.  The  only  riches  of  the  people  are 
their  numerous  flocks  and  herds-  The  government 
exatts  a tribute  from  them,  but  a bey  is  obliged  to 
come  annually  at  the  head  of  an  army  to  coliecf  it  j 
-and  many  of  them  retire  to  inaccefiible  places  till  the 
troops  are  withdrawn,  in  order  to  evade  the  payment. 

Aigieis,  itfelf  (lands  on  a bay  of  the  Mediterranean 
fea.  It  is  built  on  the  fide  of  a mountain.  The  houfes 
rife  gradually  from  the  fea-fhore  up  the  afeent,  in  the 
form  of  an  amphitheatre.  The  town  appears  beautiful 
at  a diltance,  when  approaching  from  the  water.  The 
mofques,  caftles,  and  other  public  buildings  have  a 
flriking  effedt ; but  the  flreets  are  narrow,  and  the 
houfes  mean.  The  roofs  are  flat,  fo  that  the  people  can 
yifit  each  other,  at  a confiderable  diffance  in  the  town 
without  going  into  the  flreets.  The  walls  are  about  a 
league  in  circumference,  and  defended  by  fonre  fquare 
towers  and  baftions,  The  .port  has  a pier  about  five 


( 8 ) 

hundred  paces  in  length,  which  extends  from  the  eon* 
tinent  to  a fmall  rocky  ifland  called  the  Lantern.  On 
this  illand,  there  is  a caftle  with  three  lines  of  brafs  can- 
non. The  town  has  five  gates,  ten  great  mofques,  and 
fifty  leffer  ones,  and  is  computed  to  contain  an  hundred 
thoufand  inhabitants.  The  fortifications  are  extenfive 
and  (trong.  The  Chriftian  flaves  are  often  employed 
in  removing  (tones  from  a quarry,  at  fome  diftance  in 
the  country,  which  they  lay  on  the  fand,  to  defend  the 
mole  from  the  imnetuofity  of  the  waves.  This  laborious 
■work  is  never  at  an  end,  becaufe  the  fea  conffantly 
wafhes  away  the  (tones,  and  makes  a perpetual  fupply 
nece(fary.  One  (treet,  which  is  broad  and  handfome, 
paffcs  through  the  town  from  eaft  to  weft  ; but  all  the 
other  ftreets  are  narrow,  incommodious,  and  dirty. 
Tfeere  are  faid  to  be  fifteen  thoufand  houfes,  which  are 
■cofnrtionly  built  round  a fmall  fquare  with  a paved 
court  in  the  centre.  Around  this  court  is  a double  range 
of  galleries,  one  above  the  other,  and  both  fupported 
by  columns.  The  palace  of  the  dey  (lands  in  the  centre 
of  the  city.  This  building  is  very  extenfive,  and  fur. 
rounded  by  two  fuperb  galleries,  fupported  by  marble 
pillars.  There  is  a law  here,  by  which  any  woman  con- 
victed of  amorous  correfpondence  with  a Chriftian,  is 
thrown  into  the  fga,  with  her  head  tied  up  in  a fackT 
unlefs  her  lovetchufes;to  turn  Mahometan.  Examples 
of  this'kincbaremot  unfrequent,  as  the  fair  fex,  in  that 
pait  of  the  world,  are  faid  to  be  remarkably  frail.  Six 
of  the  baths  have  been  converted  into  prifons  for  the 
Chriftian  (laves.  In  each  of  thefe,  there  is  a chapel  for 
the  free  exercife  of  their  religion.  Every  (lave  is  lei 
«ut  at  a certain  hour  in  the  morning,  and  muft  return 
at  a dated  hour  at  night,  in  order  to  be  locked  up... 
Each  of  them  is  allowed  a matrafs  and  a rug  for  a bed. 
There  are  feveral  tolerable  edifices  without  the  uTalls  of 
the  town,  which  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  environs. 
Among  thefe  are  a variety  of  Turkifh  fepulchres 
and  monuments.  One  of  thefe  monuments  contains 
fix  magnificent  tombs  of  a circular  figure.  They  were 
created  to  the  memory  of  fix  deys,  who  were  in  the 
sourfe  of  a few  days,  fucceflively  elected  and  murdered. 


( 9 > 

There  is  perhaps  no  nation  in  the  world  from  which  we 
may  not  learn  fome  uieful  lefTon.  With  refpcd  to  the 
burial  of  their  dead,  travellers  inform  us,  that  the  Ma* 
hometans  difcover  a degree  of  delicacy  of  which  Chrif- 
tians  have  no  conception.  In  our  church  yards,  nothing 
is  more  common,  and  furely  nothing  can  be  more  com- 
pletely fhocking  , than  to  fee  graves  broke  up,  a fecond 
time,  before  the  perfon  has  returned  to  his  original 
duft ; and  the  remains  of  the  dead  are  toffed  about 
with  as  little  ceremony  as  poflible.  This  wretched 
violation  of  decency  arifes  from  the  orthodox  defire  of 
being  buried  in  holy  ground ; a practice  which  has  no 
doubt  been  encouraged  by  the  parties  concerned, for  the 
purpofe  of  exacting  a high  price.  Exorbitant  demands  of 
this  kind  have  not  longfince  been  paid  within  lefs  than 
an  hundred  miles  of  Philadelphia.  The  Algerines,  and 
the  other  profeffors  of  the  Mahometan  religion,  would  re* 
gard  it  as  an  ad  of  the  moft  barbarous  facrilege  to  dif? 
turb  the  remains  of  the  dead,  by  opening  their  graves, 
at  any  diitanceof  time,  or  upon  any  pretence  whatever. 
Hence  their  burial  grounds  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a 
large  city  are  fometimes  ten  miles  in  extent. 

Algiers  had  formerly  nothing  but  rain  water.  A 
Moor,  who  had  been  driven  from  Spain,  conftruded 
two  aqueduds,  by  which  it  is  now  fupplied  with 
abundance  of  excellent  water  from  the  adjacent  moun- 
tains. The  country  around  this  city  is  very  fertile. 
Country-feats,  gardens,  and  groves  of  trees  are  faid  ta 
be  numerous.  The  Algerines  are  unacquainted  with 
the  art  of  pruning  and  grafting  trees.  Their  gardens 
are  not  walled,  but  fenced  round  with  a peculiar  fpecies 
of  fig-trees,  which  from  their  prickles,  and  the  com* 
padnefs  with  which  their  branches  interweave,  are  well 
adapted  for  that  purpofe.  Among  other  rich  trads  in 
the  province  of  Algiers  Proper,  the  great  plain  ofMet- 
tijah  is  admired  for  its  aftonifhing  fertility.  It  is  fifty 
miles  in  length,  twenty  in  breadth,  and  includes  many 
villas,  fragrant  gloves,  and  delightful  gardens.  The 
foil  produces  fuch  a profufion  of  the  moft  delicious 
fruits,  rice,  roots,  and  grain  of  every  fpecies,  that  the 
inhabitants  enjoy  annually  two,  and  frequently  thre# 

$ 


C *©  ) 

.-crops  The  hmt  baths  of  Meereega,  in  the  neighbour* 
hood  of  this  city,  are  natural  curiofities.  The  principal 
one  is  twelve  feet  fquare  and  four  deep.  The  water  is 
very  hot,  and  when  it  has  filled  the  larger  bafon,  runs 
through  it  into  another  of  a finaller  fize,  where  the  Jew* 
bathe,  as  they  are  not  permitted  to  ufe  the  fame  bath, 
with  the  Mahometans.  Thefe  hot  fountains  are  conjec- 
tured to  proceed  from  the  great  quantities  of  fulphur, 
nitre,  and  other  inflammable  fubfiances  in  the  bowels 
of  the  earth.  To  this  caufe  likewife  have  been  afcribed 
thofe  earthquakes,  to  which  the  whole  country,  and  Al- 
giers in  particular,  are  frequently  fubjected. 


Chapter  JI, 

Cujloms.  Religion.  Government.  Land  Forces.  Corf  air  u 

THE  prefent  inhabitants  of  the  territory  of  Algiers 
are  compofedofa  multitude  of  different  nations. 
Among  thefe  are  theMoors  orMorefcos  who  were  driven 
out  of  Spain  about  the  end  of  the  fixteenth  century, 
and  the  Arabians,  who  trace  their  defcent  from  thofe 
difciples  of  Mahomet  who  formerly  fubdued  this  coun- 
try. Levantines,  Turks,  Jews,  and  Chriftian  haves,  with 
a croud  formed  of  the  poflerity  of  all  thefe  different; 
people,  make  up  the  reft  of  the  population.  The  Moors 
and  Arabs  are  the  moft  numerous.  The  for  me r 
compofe  the  great  body  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns. 
Bui  it  rpay  be  readily  fuppofed,  that  amidft  fuch  a va- 
riety of  different  races,  immenfe  numbeFS  cannot  be 
faid.to  belong  to  any  particular  tribe  or  nation  what- 
ever. In  this  country  there  are  many  wandering  bands 
of  fhepherds,  who  live  together  in  camps  <md  remove 
from  one  place  to  another  as  they  want  pafiure  for  their 
herds  and  flocks, or  as  any  other  accidental  circumftance 
happens  to  make  it  neceffary.  They  fometimes  pay 
rent  to  landlords,  in  corn,  fruit,  honey,  wax,  and  other 
productions  of  the  fame  kind.  The  dey  likewife  de- 
mands-a  tribute.  The  excellence  of  the  climate  ren- 
ders this  fiinple  way  of  living  tolerable,  though  the 
of  thefe  people  are  mean,  their  utenfils  of  little 


( ” ) 

value,  and  their  lodging  filthy.  The  family  and  thefe 
domeftic  animals,  lie  promifcuoufly  in  the  tents  toge- 
ther, except  the  dogs,  which  are  left  on  the  outfide 
as  guards.  They  raife  confiderable  numbers  of  bees 
and  of  filk-worms.  They  fubfift  chiefly  on  bread,  rice 
and  fruit.  Wine  and  fpirituous  liquors  are  almoft  en- 
tirely unknown. 

The  drefs  of  the  men  is  only  a long  piece  of  coarfe 
doth  wrapped  round  the  fhoulders,  and  falling  down  to 
their  ankles,  with  a cap  of  the  fame  Huff.  The  women 
pay  fome  more  attention  to  the  ornamental  part  of 
drefs.  The  children  are  fufifered  to  go  (lark  naked 
till  feven  or  eight  years  of  age.  The  Sheik  or  chief 
of  a tribe  wears  a cap  of  fine  cloth.  Thefe  people  are 
ufually  called  Arabs  ; their  cuftoms, language  and  reli- 
gion bear  a find  affinity  with  thofe  of  Arabia.  They 
are  robuft  and  of  a fwarthy  complexion.  The  men  are 
adive,  the  women  prolific,  and  the  children  healthy.. 
They  have  neither  to  encounter  the  hardffiips  incident 
to  the  life  of  a North-American  favage,  nor  are  their 
conftitutions  enfeebled,  as  isTometimes  the  cafe  in  ma- 
nufaduring  towns,  by  fedentary  and  unhealthful  em- 
ployments. When  a young  man  would  marry,  he 
drives  a number  of  cattle  to  the  hut  where  the  parents 
of  his  miftrefs  refide.  The  bride  is  fet  on  horfeback 
and  led  heme,  amidffi  the  ffiouts  of  a croud  of  young 
people,  who  have  been  invited  to  the  nuptial  feaft. 
When  ffie  arrives  at  the  hut  of  her  lover,  a mixture  of 
milk  and  honey  is  given  her  to  drink,  and  afongfuita- 
ble  to  the  occafion  is  fung.  She  then  alights,  and  is 
prefented  with  a (tick,  which  file  thrufts  into  the  ground* 
and  repeats  fome  lines  to  the  followiug  effed : <s  As 
“ this  {tick  is  fattened  in  the  earth,  fo  I am  in  duty 
^ bound  to  my  hufband ; as  nothing  but  violence  can. 
^ remove  it,  fo  death  alone  (hall  force  me  from  his 
44  love.”  She  then  drives  his  flock  to  water  and  back 
again,  to  fliew  her  willingnefs  to  perform  any  duty  that 
he  may  affign  her.  Thefe  previous  ceremonies  being 
•fettled,  all  the  company  enter  the  hut,  and  the  evening 
concludes  with  the  greateft  feftivity  that  thefe  people  are 
•capable  of  enjoying,  Subfequent  to  the  marriage,  the 


< *i  > ■ 

wife  is  obliged  to  wear  avail.  She  never  ftirs  from  the 
hut  for  the  fpace  of  a month,  after  that  time. 
Thefe  are  the  ceremonies  reported  to  be  cuftomary  in 
celebrating  a marriage  among  the  paftoral  tribes  of 
Barbary.  But  narratives  of  this  kind  mull  be  received, 
as  bifhop  Burnet  admonifhes  the  reader,  to  perufe  his 
Hiftory  of  his  own  times,  viz.  with  feme  grains  of  allow- 
ance. Such  uniform  regularity  is  hardly  to  be  expect- 

ed among  a race  of  wandering  fhepherds.  Perhaps  an 
African  critic  would  turn  from  our  defeription  of  his 
country  with  as  much  difdain,as  a citizen  of  the  United 
States  feels  in  attempting  to  perule  a frothy  volume  re* 
fpedting  North-America,  fabricated  by  fome  of  the  pra- 
fedional  book-builders  of  Paris  or  of  London.* 

* The  following  curious  circumftanres  mav  ferve  to  fhevr 
What  kind  of  opinion  ought  to  be  entertained  of  the  authors  of 
oriental  travels.  In  the  ytar  1783,  an  adventurer,  who 
called  hnnfelf  a modern  .Greek,  publilhed  a 1’mall  vo* 
lume  entitled  the  life  of  All  Bey . It  contained  fome  ro* 

mantic  ftories,  which  the  author  atterted  as  an  eye  witnefs. 
About  this  time  the  court  of  France  had  difpatched  into  Egypt 
Monfieur  Savary,  a gentleman  of  fome  note  in  the  republic  of 
letters.  His  bulinefs  was  to  obtain  authentic  information  con- 
cerning the  ancient  and  modern  fituatiori  of  that  country*  He 
returned,  and  in  due  time  publilhed  two  large  volumes,  preg- 
nant with  learning  and  fublimity.  Monfieur  Voiney  foon  after 
entered  the  lifts  as  a third  champion.  He  made  a very  fevere 
attack  on  the  veracity  of  his  French  predeceffor.  In  particular, 
he  upbraided  him  with  having  ftolen  a great  number  of  pages, 
from  a very  contemptible  impofture  which  pretended  to  be  a 
life  of  Aii  Bey . This  biographer,  as  an  evidence,  perhaps,  of 
his  claflical  pedigree,  had  adorned  the  name  of  Cofmofolitos . 
Voiney  added  that  a copy  of  the  book  having  by  chance  come  to 
Egypt,  while  he  was  there,  the  European  merchants  in  that 
province  could  not  help  exprelling  their  furprize,  that  their 
countrymen  were  ftupid  enough  to  digeft  fuch  ridiculous  reve- 
ries. Monfieur  Savary  did  not  long  furvive  this  humiliating 
difeovery.  But  the  “ Modern  Greek”  replied  in  a volume  of 
letters,  which  he  inferibed  by  permiflion  to  fir  William  For- 
dyce,  an  eminent  Englilh  phvfician.  In  this  work  he  affirms 
that  Voiney  himfelf  wrote  his  travels  in  a garret  at  London. 
Bella!  horrida  bflla  ! 

Jt  is  certainly,  though  not  generally  known,  that  the  letters 


( *3  ? 

The  Moors  or  Arabs,  for  the  two  names  appear  to 
fynonyrnous,  are  good  horfemen,  but  great  thieves. 
Their  principal  arms  are  a fhort  lance  and  a feymitar, 
though  they  are  likewife  acquainted  with  the  bow  and 
the  mulket.  It  is  dangerous  to  travel  in  the  country* 
for  fear  of  being  robbed , but  perfons  are  faid  to  be 
in  fafety,  if  attended  by  one  of  the  Mahometan  Mara- 
bouts or  hermits.  The  inhabitants  on  the  fea-coaft  are 
perfectly  verfant  in  the  ufe  of  fire-arms. 

Algiers  retains  the  title  of  a kingdom,  an  epithet 
which  might,  w-ithout  regret,  be  expunged  from  every 
human  vocabulary.  It  is  however  a military  republic, 
though  it  certainly  can  reflect  no  luftre  on  that  fpecies 
of  government.  The  national  ordinances  run  in  thefe 
words : “ We,  the  great,  and  fmall  members  of  the 
“ mighty  and  invincible  militia  of  Algiers,”  &c.  The 
dey  is  elected  by  a divan  compofed  from  the  army.  He 
feldomfecures  his  office,  without  tumult  and  bloodfhed  ► 
and  he  often  falls  by  the  dagger  of  an  aifaffin.  This 
fovereign  may  with  peculiar  propriety  adopt  the  expref. 
fion  of  one  of  the  heroes  of  Ollian  : tc  I was  born  in 
“ the  midflof  battles,  and  my  fteps  muft  move  in  blood 
“ to  the  tomb.”  The  way  in  which  his  authority  is 
exercifed,  correfponds  with  that  by  which  it  has  been 
obtained.  When  Mr.  Bruce,  as  Britifh  refident  at  Al- 
giers, had  occafion  to  vifit  the  dev,  he  fometimes  found 
him  in  his  hall  of  audience,  with  his  cloaths  all  be- 
fpattered  with  blood,  like  thofe  of  a carcafe  butcher. 
It  is  a very  frequent  amufement  with  him,  to  caufe  the 
heads  of  his  fubjedls  to  be  flruck  off  in  his  prefence. 
Mr.  Bruce  faid,  that  he  knew  of  one  man,  who  was 
executed,  for  no  greater  offence  than  becaufe  a gun- 
flint  was  found  upon  him.  His  indi&ment  and  trial 
were*  very  concife.  “You  rafeal,  what  bufinefs  havg 

of  lady  Mary  Wortley  Montague  are  the  offspring  of  a roer. 
cantile  pen.  Even  Baron  Tott,  and  Mr.  Bruce,  though  writers 
of  comparative  authenticity,  require  in  the  reader,  fhong 
and  frequent  dofes  of  faith. 


( 14  > 

you  with  a hint,  unlefs  you  were  going  to  confpirc 
“ againit  the  Hate  ?”* 

The  aga  of  the  Janiflaries  is  the  officer  next  to  the 
dey  in  dignity  and  power.  He  enjoys  his  poll  but  two 
'tnonths,  and  then  retires  upon  a penfion.  The  other 
officers  of  importance  are  a fecretary  of  (late,  twenty- 
four  Chiah  baffas  or  colonels  livbordinate  to  the  aga, 
eight  hundred  fenior  captains,  and  four  hundred  lieu- 
tenants. Among  thefe  officers,  the  right  of  leniority 
is  ftrictly  obferved.  A breach  of  this  point  would  be 
expe&ed  to  produce  a revolt  among  the  foldiers,  and 
might  perhaps  coft  the  dey  his  life.  Befides  thefe  offi- 
cers, there  are  others  belonging  to  the  Turkiffi  forces, 
who  form  a feparate  body.  The  dey  has  a corps  of 
guards  ; a very  neceffiary,  though  fometimes  a fruitlefs 
precaution;  as  any  private  foldier  who  has  the 
courage  to  murder  him,  Hands  an  equal  chance  of 
becoming  his  fucceffor.  Experiments  of  this  de- 
fcription  are  fometimes  made.  Since  the  beginning 
erf  the  prefent  century,  fix  private  foldiers  entered  into 
a confpiracy  to  kill  a dey  of  one  of  the  dates  cf  Barba- 
ty.  They  gave  him  a mortal  wound  in  his  palace,  and 
in  the  midit  of  a croud  of  people.  He  expired,  ex- 
claiming, “Has  nobody  the  courage  to  kill  a villain 
One  of  the  conipirators,  the  intended  fucceffor,  inilant- 
ly  afeended  the  vacant  throne,  and  brandiffiing  his  naked 
fcymitar?  declared  that  he  zvoidd  do  jufcice  to  all!  His 
five  affociates  went  about  the  hall  to  inforce  the  title  of 
their  new  mailer  ; and  none  prefent  leemed  to  give 
themfelves  any  diflurbance  about  what  had  happened. 
He  kept  his  fituation  unmolelled,  for  about  ten  mi- 
nutes, till  an  old  veteran  unobferved  took  aim  with  a 
jnulket  or  blunderbufs,  and  ffiot  him  dead.  Upon  this, 
the  five  others  were  immediately  dilpatched  by  the  per- 
fons  prefent.  But  what  ffiewed  the  nature  of  the  go- 
vernment in  its  proper  light  was  the  obfervation  of  the 
new  dey.  He  faid,  that  if  the  uiurper  could  have  held 

* Thefe  picturefque  details  are  not  inferted  In  the  publica. 
ifon  of  Mr.  Bruce  ; bnt  they  were  related  to  me  on  his  authc* 
rity,  by  a gentleman  of  the  tint  rank  in  the  literary  world. 


( 1 5 ) 

his  place  for  twenty  minutes  longer,  he  would  have 
obtained  the  throne. 

The  people  of  Algiers  in  general  fpeak  a compound  of 
Arabic,  Morefco,  and  the  remains  of  the  ancient  Phce« 
Flician  languages.  The  natives  of  all  denominations, 
for  the  moil  part,  underftand  the  Lingua  Franca.  This 
is  a kind  of  dialect,  which  without  being  the  proper 
language  of  any  country  on  the  coaft  of  the  Mediter-* 
ranean  lea,  has  a kind  of  universal  currency  all  over 
that  quarter  of  the  world,  as  the  channel  of  information, 
for  people,  who  cannot  unberftand  each  other  through 
any  medium  but  iti'elf.  The  public  bufinefs  of  the  na-* 
t-ion  is  tranfadled  in  the  Turldfh  tongue,  in  which  alfo 
the  records  are  kept.  It  is  curious,  that  in  converfatk 
on,  a 1 urk  trampofes  his  nouns  and  verbs,  in  the  fame 
way  that  the  Greek  and  Latin  writers  have  done.  Some 
of  our  modern  critics  have  been  woefully  perplexed  in 
attempting  to  explain  this  practice,  which  they  feem  ta 
eonfider  as  peculiar  to  thofe  two  ancient  languages. 
Had  they  been  acquainted  with  the  circumftsnce  juft 
how  mentioned,  they  might  readily  have  folved  forne 
of  their  doubts,  by  a voyage  to  Constantinople. 

In  Algiers,  both  men  and  women  fpend  a great  part 
of  their  time  in  indolence  ; the  men,  in  drinking 
coffee  and  fmoaking  ; and  the  women,  in  drefllng, 
bathing,  viftting  the  tombs  of  their  relations,  and  faun-* 
tering  in  their  gardens.  The  Algerines  by  their  law 
may  have  four  wives,  but  they  ul'ually  content  themfelveat 
with  two  or  three  at  the  moft.  The  hufband  feldom 
fees  his  wire  belore  marriage,  but  accepts  her  upon  the. 
defcription  of  a female  confident.  When  the  match  is 
agreed  upon,  the  bridegroom  fends  a prefent  of  fruits 
and  Sweetmeats  to  the  bride,  and  entertains  her  relations 
with  a feaft  and  a mufical  entertainment.* 

* An  author,  vhofe  bulk  at  leafi:  entitles  him  to  refpedk 
gravely  tells  us,  that  when  an  Algerine  dies,  his  body  is  clad 
in  a turban,  a hurt,  a pair  cf  drawers,  and  a (ilk  robe  ! If  we 
undeiiland  this  paffage  in  its  literal  fenfe,  tilk  muit  be  more 
abundant,  in  that  kingdom,  than  linen  is,  in  any  part  of  Eu« 
rope  ; fince  it  is  certain  that  thousands  of  poor  people  in  Eu« 
tope  are  buried  without  even  a ihirt.  1 bus  it  is  that  books  ojf 


r i<r  ) 

The  militia  who  eleS  the  dey  are  either  Turks  er 
renegado  Chriftians.  Their  number  has  been  varioufly 
ftated  by  different  authors  from  fix  thoufand  five  hun- 
dred to  twelve  thoufand.  The  dey  pays  no  other  reve- 
nue to  the  grand  feignior,than  that  of  a certain  number 
of  handfome  youths,  and  fome  other  annual  prefents. 
His  income  is  more  or  lefs  in  proportion  to  his  oppor- 
tunities of  plundering  his  neighbours  or  his  fubjech. 
Dr  Shaw  fays,  that  the  taxes  of  the  whole  kingdom  pro- 
duce yearly  to  the  dey  but  about  three  hundred  thou- 
fand dollars.  He  conje&ures  that  the  eighth  fhare  of 
the  prizes,  the  property  of  perfons  who  die  without 
children,  and  to  whom  the  dey  falls  heir,  with  the  pre- 
fents from  foreign  nations,  and  his  private  acts  of  rob- 
bery at  home,  extend  to  an  equal  fum.  It  is  eafy  to  fee 
that  this  calculation  mud  be  extremely  queftionable. 
The  tyrant  himfelf  can  hardly  be  fuppofed  capable  to 
give  adiftinct  eflimate. 

The  Mufti,  the  Cadi,  and  the  grand  Marabout,  are- 
the  principal  ecclefiaftics.  The  firlt  is  the  high  prieft 
of  their  religion  *,  the  fecond,  the  fupreme  judge  in  ec* 
cleliaitical  caufes,  and  in  fuch  civil  matters  as  the  civil 
power  does  not  interpofe  in.  The  third  is  the  chief  of 
an  ordeT  of  faints  or  hermits.  Thefe  three  perfons  are 
difting-uidied  by  the  largenefs  of  their  turbans.  They 
fit  in  the  divan  a little'below  the  dey,  on  his  right  hand. 
The  divan  itfelf  confifts  of  about  two  thoufand  Turkilh 
officers  and  foldiers. 

'Hie  common  punifhment  at  Algiers,  for  offences  not 
capital,  is  the  baftinado ; for  thofe,  -which  are  fo,  the 
bow-ilring,  which  two  people  pull  different  ways  with 
all  their  itrengtb,  fo  that  the  criminal  is  inltantly  dif- 
patched.  The  Chrittian  Haves  are  liable  to  a variety 
of  pimifhments.  They  are  fometimes  burned,  or 
rather  roafted  alive.  At  other  times,  they  are  im- 
paled. This  is  done,  by  placing  the  offender  on  the 


travels  are  written.  The  journalift  records  what  he  has  feen 
happen  once,  or  perhaps  has  never  feen  at  all,  as  what  takes 
placeevery  day.  The  writer  above  referred  to  might  as  well 
have  told  us,  that  every  native  of  Algiers  was  ieven  feet  high. 


C l7  > 

a fharp  ftake,  which  is  thruft  up  his  pofteriors  clofe 
by  the  back-bone,  till  it  appears  above  his  {boulders. 
Slaves  are  fornetimes  cad  over  the  walls  of  a town  upon 
iron  hooks.  Thefe  catch  by  the  jaws,  by  the  ribs,  or 
fome  other  part  of  the  body ; and  the  fufferers  have 
been  known  to  hang  thus  for  feveral  days,  alive,  and  in 
the  inoif  exquifite  torture.  Crucifixion,  by  nailing  the 
hands  and  feet  to  walls,  is  likewife  pradtifed. 

A Moor  convidted  of  houfe -breaking,  hath  his- right 
hand  cut  off  and  fattened  about  his  neck.  He  is  then 
Jed  through  the  city  on  an  afs,  with  his  face  towards 
its  tail.  Perfons  of  diftindtion,  for  crimes  againft  ths 
date,  are  placed  between  two  boards,  and  fawed  afun** 
der.  Women,  detected  in  adultery,  are  fixed  by 
their  necks  to  a pole,  and  held  underwater  till  they  are 
fuffocated. 

When  an  Algerine  pirate  takes  a prize,  he  examines 
into  the  quality  and  circumftances  of  the  prifoners. 
If  he  difibelie-ves  the  account  that  they  give  of  them- 
felves,  they  are  baftinadoed,  till  he  has  met  with  an 
agreeable  anfwer.  Having  obtained  what  information 
he  is  able,  he  brings  them  on  fhore,  after  having  {trip- 
ped them  aimoft  naked.  He  carries  them  diredtly  to  the 
palace  of  the  dey,  where  the  European  coniuls  affemble, 
lo  fee  if  any  of  the  prifoners  belong  to  their  refpective 
nations,  who  are  at  peace  Vith  Algiers.  In  .that  cafe, 
they  reclaim  them,  provided  that  they  were  only  pafien- 
gers ; but  if  they  have  ferved  on  board  of  the  {hips  of 
any  people  at  war  with  “ the  mighty  and  invincible 
“ militia,”  they  cannot  be  difcharged  without  payment 
qf  the  full  ranfcnn  . „ 

Matters  are  thus  fettled  between  the  dey  and  the  con- 
fuls,  what  part  of  the  prifoners  are.  to  be  fet  at  liberty, 
and- what  part  are  to  be  confidered  as  {laves.  The  dey 
has  next  his  choice  of  every  eighth  Have.  He  gene- 
rally chufes  the  matters,  furgeons,  carpenters,  and 
molt  ufeful  hands  belonging  to  the  feveral  prizes.  Be- 
fiides  his  eighth,  he  lays  claim  to  all  prifoners  of  quality, 
for  whom  a iuperior  raniom  is  to  be  expected.  The 
reft  are  left  to  the  corfair  and  his  owners.  They  are 
carried  to  the  {lave  market ; the  crier  proclaims  their 

C. 


( IS  ) 

■rank,  profeffion,  and  fcircumdances,  and  the  price  fet 
Upon  each  of  them.  They  are  then  led  to  the  court 
before  'the  palace  of  the  dey,  and  there  fold  to  the  bell 
bidder.  If  any  fum  is  offered  beyond  the  price  fir  It 
fet  upon  them,  it  belongs  to  the  government.  The 
captors  and  owners  have  only  that  which  was  originally 
fet  upon  the  haves.  For  this  practice  of  buying  and 
felling  haves,  we  are  not  entitled  to  charge  the  Algerines 
with  any  exclufive  degree  of  barbarity.  The  Chri.lians 
of  Europe  and  America  cairv  on  this  commerce  an 
hundred  times  more extetifively  than  the  Algerines.  It 
has  received  a recent  function  from  the  immaculate 
Divan  of  Britain.  Nobody  feems  even  to  be  furprifei 
by  a diabolical  kind  of  advertifements,  which,  for  fome 
jmonths  part,  have  frequently  adorned  the  newfpapers  of 
Philadelphia.  The  French  fugitives  from  the  Welt-In- 
dies have  brought  with  them  a croud  of  haves.  Thefe 
moil  injured  people  fometimes  run  off,  and  their  maher 
advertifes  a reward  for  apprehending  them.  At  the 
fame  time,  we  are  commonly  informed,  that  his  facred 
name  is  marked  in  capitals,  on  their  breads ; or  in 
plainer  terms,  it  is  damped  on  that  part  of  the  body 
•with  a red  hot  iron.  Before  therefore  we  reprobate  the 
ferocity  of  the  Algerines,  we  fhould  enquire  wtiether  it 
is  not  pohible  to  find,  in  fome  other  regions  of  the 
globe,  a fydematic  brutality  dill  more  disgraceful? 


Chapter  III, 

Origin  of  the  prefent  government  of  Algiers.  Expedi- 
diiion  of  Charles  V. 

ALGIERS  had  undergone  a variety  of  revolutions 
in  its  form  of  government,  previous  to  the  begin- 
ning of  the  dxteenth  century,  which  it  is  not  within  the 
plan  of  this  (ketch  to  defcribe.  But  about  that  time,  a 
fudden  revolution  happened,  which,  by  rendering  the 
ilates  of  Barbarv  formidable  to  theEuropeans,hath  made 
their  hidory  worthy  of  more  attention.  “ Ibis  revo- 
^ Ipijon  was  brought  about,  by  perfons  born  in  a ran& 


( *9  ) 


of  life,  which  entitled  them  to  act  no  fuch  illujlrto-M 
“ part/'*  Horuc  and  Hayradin,  the  Ions  of  a potter 


* Robertfon’s  Hiftcry  of  Charles  V.  bock  5.  It  is  to  be 
tviflied,that  this  writ.r  had  lelt  us  an  explanat  on  of  what  idea 
he  intended  to  convey,  by  the  word  iltujiriaus.  In  his  Htftory 
©f  America,  it  is  frequently  applied  to  the  conquerors  of  Ivdexi* 
eo  and  Peru  ; and  here  to  tne  founders  of  the  piratical  ftatc  of 
Algiers,  Pet  a few  lines  farther  dow  n,  in  the  page  juft  quoted,, 
he  lays,  that  thefe  corlairs,  whom  he  had  juft  o lore  termed 
illujtrious , followed  an  infamous  trade.  Immediately  after,  ho 
charges  one  of  them  with  a perfidious  inurtker . If  thele  are 
not  contradidions,  what  name  are  we  to  give  them?  In  the 
hilfory  of  America,  book  5,  he  tells  us  that  Cortes  “ has  been 
“ admired  and  celeb’ at;  a by  1 receding  ages.”  Thus  a pref- 
byte  run  divine  holds  forth  as  an  object  ol  admiration  and  ce a 
lebrity , the  butcher  of  t wo  or  three  millions  of  i nnocent  people. 
Dr.  tiobertlon  has  filled  three  oftavo  volumes,  with  a hiltory 
©1  the  reign  of  Charles  V.  who  was  likewife,  it  leems,  an  objedf 
worthy  of  admiration.  This  tyrant  configrled  to  the  execu- 
tioner, fifty  or  an  hundred  thouiand  of  his  proteftant  fubjectsr 
in  the  'Netherlands;  as  we  are  informed  by  father  Paul  and 
Grotius.  i here  is  not,  however,  to  be  found,  in  the  narra- 
tive of  the  panegyrift  of  BarbarolTa,  one  linglc  word  of  fuch 
a bloody  perfecution  ; nor  has  this  ftupendous  mutilation  of 
hiilory  been  llarted  as  an  objection  to  Dr.  Robertfon,  b/any 
of  the  L ndon  critics,  whom  I have  met  w'ith.  Had  this  re- 
verend  author  been  writing  the  life  of  Richard  III.  of  Eng- 
land, we  may.  from  what  has  been  above  ftated,  conjecture, 
that  he  would  have  forgot  to  mention  the  two  nephews  of 
that  illuftrious  lovereign.  Of  fuch  heroes,  fuch  an  encomiaft, 
and  a world  that  admires  the  one  and  the  other,  candour  cart, 
only  fay,  Mains,  Pejsr,  Pejjlmus. 

It  is  provoking  to  fee  how  many  of  the  moft  diftinguilhed 
hiftorians  defpiie  the  reputation  of  veracity.  Mr.  Hume,  as  a 
pattern  of  excellence,  is  ufually  coupled  with  Dr.  Robertlon. 
As  to  him,  tke  reader  may  look  into  my  additions  to  the  article 
of  Ireland,  in  the  American  edition  of  Guthrie’s  geography. 
In  this  refpsft,  the  ancients  are  often  as  exceptionable.  Salluft 
pronounces  for  Catiline,  a long  fpeech  to  his  army,  juft  beford 
its  defeat.  He  adds,  loon  after,  Pvjlremo,  ex  omni  copia , neque 
in  prcclio , ueqtte  in  fag  a,  quisquam  civis  ingtnuus  capias  eji.  From 
this  exprefiion  we  are  to  underftand,  that  the  whole  rebel  army 
Was  cut  to  pieces;  a few  fugitive  {laves  perhaps  excepted. 
Where  then  did  Salluft  obtain  a copy  of  the  lpeech  of  Cata« 
line  ? or  what  are  we  to  think  as  to  the  fidelity  of  that  mef 
enchanting  writer^ 


C *0  ) 

in  the  ifle  of  L'efboSj  prompted  by  a refflefs  and  enter* 
prifmg  fpirit,  forfook  their  father’s  profefilon,  ran  to' 
fea,  and  joined  a crew  of  pirates.  They  foon  diftin- 
gui fired  themfelves  by  their  Valour  and  activity,  and 
becoming  makers  of  a fmall  brigantine,  fupported  their 
infamous  trade  with  fuch  conduct  and  fuccefs,  that  they 
affembled  a fleet  of  twelve  galleys,  befides  many  veffels 
of  fmaller  force.  Of  this  fleet,  Horuc,  the  elder  bro- 
ther, called  Barbaroffa  from  the  red  colour  of  his  beard. 
Was  admiral,  and  Hayradin  fecond  in  command.  Their 
names  foon  became  terrible  from  the  Straits  of  the  Dar- 
danelles to  thofe  of  Gibraltar.  Together  with  then- 
power  their  ambitious  views  extended,  and  while  acting 
as  corfairs,  they  affumed  the  ideas,  and  acquired  the 
talents  of  conquerors.  They  often  carried  the  prizes, 
which  they  took  on  the  coaft  of  Spain  and  Italv,  into 
the  ports  of  Barbary.  The  convenient  htuafion  cf 
thefc  harbours,  lying  fo  near  the  grcateft  commercial 
ftates  at  that  time  in  Chrifcendom,  made  the  brothers 
with  for  an  eftablifhment  in  that  country.  An  oppor- 
tunity of  accomplilhing  this  project,  prefented  itfelf, 
and  they  did  not  f offer  it  to  pafs  unimproved.  Eutemi, 
king  of  Algiers,  having  attempted  feveral  times,  with’ 
out  fuccefs,  to  take  a fort  which  the  Spanifli  governors 
of  Oran  had  built  not  far  from  his  capital,  applied  to 
Barbaroffa.  The  corfair,  leaving  his  brother  Hayradin 
with  the  fleet,  marched  at  the  head  of  five  thoufand 
men  to  Algiers.  Such  a force  gave  him  the  command 
of  the  town.  He  fecretly  murdered  the  monarch  whom 
he  had  come  to  aflilt,  .and  proclaimed  himfelf  king  in 
his  Head.  The  authority  which  he  had  ufurped,  he 
eftablilhed  by  arts  fuited  to  the  genius  of  the  people 
whom  he  had  to  govern  ; . by  liberality  without  bounds 
to  thofe  who  favoured  his  promotion,  and  by  cruelty 
no  lefs  unbounded  to  all  whom  he  had  any  reafon  to 
miftruff.  He  continued  to  infelt  the  coalt  oi  Spain  and 
?taly  with  fleets  which  refembled  the  armaments  of  a 
g-'eat  monarch,  rather  than  the  fquadrons  of  a pirate. 
Their  frequent  and  cruel  devaftations  obliged  Charles 
V.  about  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  to  furnifli  the 
ffarquis  de  Cornares,  governor  of  Oran,  with  troops 


t *>  > 

fufficient  to  attack  him.  That  officer  executed  the  com**- 
million  with  fuch  fpirit,  that  Barbaroffa’s  forces  being 
vanquifhed  in  feveral  encounters,  he  himfelf  was  ffiut  up 
in  Tremecen,  and  in  attempting  to  make  his  efcape 
was  fortunately  dain. 

His  brother  Hayradin,  known  likewife  by  the  name 
©f  Barbaroffia,  affumed  the  fceptre  of  Algiers.  He 
carried  on  his  naval  robberies  with  great  vigour,  and 
extended  his  conquefts  on  the  continent  of  Africa, 
But  perceiving  that  the  Moors  and  Arabs  fubmitted  to 
his  government  with  the  utmolt  reluctance,  and  being 
afraid  that  his  continual  depredations  would,  one  day, 
draw  upon  him  the  arms  of  the  Chriltians,  he  put  his 
dominions  under  the  protection  of  the  grand  feignior, 
and  received  from  him  a body  of  Turkilh  foldiers  fuf- 
ficient  for  his  fecurity  againlt  his  domeftic  as  well  as 
foreign  enemies.  At  lalt,  (he  infamy,  -or,  as  Dr.  Ro~ 
bertfon  calls  it,  th z fame  of  his  exploits  daily  increafing,- 
Solyman  offered  him  the  command  of  the  Turkilh  fleet  j 
and  Hayradin  on  the  other  hand,  jultly  dreading  the 
confequences  of  the  tyranny  of  his  officers  over  the 
Algerines,  fought  the  protection  of  the  grand  feignior. 
This  was  readily  granted,  and  himfelf  appointed  baffiaw 
or  viceroy  of  Algiers  ; by  which  means  he  received 
fuch  conliderable  reinforcements,  that  the  unhappy  Al- 
gerines durft  not  make  the  leaft  complaint ; and  fuch 
numbers  of  Turks  reforted  to  him,  that  he  was  not  only 
capable  of  keeping  the  Moors  and  Arabs  in  fubjeCtion 
at  home,  but  of  annoying  the  Chriltians  at  fea. 

Hayradin  fet  about  building  a ftrong  mole  for  the 
fafety  of  his  fhips.  In  this  he  employed  thirty  thoufand 
Chriltian  Haves,  whom  he  obliged  to  work  without  in- 
ter  million  for  three  years,  in  w'hich  time  the  work  was 
completed.  Hayradin  foon  became  dreaded  not  only 
by  the  Arabs  and  Moors,  but  alfo  by  the  maritime 
Chriltian  powers,  efpecially  the  Spaniards.  The  vice- 
roy failed  not  to  acquaint  the  grand  feignior  with 
his  fuccefs,  and  obtained  from  him  a frelh  fupply 
of  money,  by  which  he  was  enabled  to  build  ftrong- 
forts,  and  to  ereCt  batteries  on  all  places  that  mighs 
favour  the  landing  of  an  enemy.  All  thefe  have  fince 


< 2*  ) 

received  greater  improvements  from  time  to  time,  ae- 
often  as  there  was  occafion  for  them. 

In  the  mean  time  the  fultan,  either  out  of  a fenfe  of 
the  great  fervices  of  Iiayradin,  or  perhaps  out  of  jea- 
loufy  left  he  (hould  make  himfelf  independent,  railed 
him  to  the  dignity  of  bafhaw  of  the  empire,  and  ap- 
pointed PJaffan-Aga,  a Sardinian  renegade,  to  fucceed 
him  as  bafhaw  of  Algiers.  Haffail  had  nofooner  taken 
poileffion  of  his  new  government, than  he  began  to  puriue 
his  ravages  on  the  Spanifh  coaft  with  greater  fury  than 
ever  ; extending  them  to  the  ecclefiaftical  ftate,  and  o- 
ther  parts  of  Italy.  Pope  Paul  III.  alarmed  at  this  pro- 
ceeding,exhorted  the  emperor  Charles  V.  to  fend  a pow- 
erful fleet  to  fupprefs  thole  frequent  piracies  ; and,  that 
nothing  might  be  wanting  to  render  the  enterprize  fuc- 
cefsful,  a bull  was  publifhed  by  his  holinefs,  wherein  a 
plenary  abfolution  of  fms,  and  the  crown  of  martyrdom, 
were  promifed  to  all  thofe  who  either  fell  in  battle  or 
were  made  Haves.  The  emperor,  on  his  part,  needed  no 
incitement,  and  therefore  fet  fail  at  the  head  of  a pow- 
erful fleet,  confiding  of  an  hundred  and  twenty  (hips 
and  twenty  gallies,  having  on  board  thirty  thoufand 
troops,  with  an  immenfe  quantity  of  arms,  and  am- 
munition. In  this  expedition,  many  young  nobility  and 
gentlemen  attended  as  volunteers,  and  among  thefe 
many  knights  of  Malta,  fo  remarkable  for  their  valour 
againft  the  enemies  of  Chriftianity.  Even  ladies  of  birth 
and  character  attended  Charles,  and  the  wives  and 
daughters  of  the  officers  and  foldiers  followed  him  with 
a defign  to  fettle  in  Barbary,  after  the  conqueft  was 
fktifhed. 

By  this  prodigious  armament  the  Algerines  were 
thrown  into  the  utmoft  confternation.  The  city  was 
furrounded  only  by  a wall  with  fcarce  any  out- works. 
The  garrifon  confided  of  eight  hundred  Turks  and  fix. 
thoufand  Moors,  without  fire-arms,  and  poorly  diici- 
plined  and  accoutred  ; the  reft  of  their  forces  being* 
difperi'ed  in  the  other  provinces  of  the  kingdom,  to  levy 
the  ufual  tribute  ou  the  Arabs  and  Moors.  Ihe  Spa- 
niards landed  without  opposition,  and  immediately 


( ®3  ) 

built  a fort,  under  the  cannon  of  which  they  encamped* 
and  diverted  the  ccurfe  of  a fpring  which  (applied  the. 
city  with  water.  Being  now  reduced  to  the  utmofl 
dihreis,  Haffan  received  a fummons  to  furrender  at  dif* 
cretion,  on  pain  of  being  put  to  the  fvvord  with  all  his 
garrison.  The  herald  was  ordered  to  extoll  the  vaft 
power  of  the  emperor  both  by  fea  and  land,  and  to  ex- 
hort him  to  return  to  the  Chrillian  ieiigion.  But  to 
this  Haffan  only  replied,  that  he  mud  be  a madman, 
who  would  pretend  to  advife  an  enemy,  and  that  the 
perfon  adviied  would  aft  (till  more  madly  who  would 
take  couniel  of  fuch  an  advifer.  He  was,  however,  on 
the  point  of  furrendering  the  city,  when  intelligence 
wat  brought  him  that  the  forces  belonging  to  the  weft* 
ern  government  were  in  full  march  towards  the  place  ; 
upon  which  it  was  refolved  to  defend  it  to  the  utmofk, 
Charles,  in  the  mean  time,  refolving  upon  a general 
affault,  kept  a conftant  firing  on  the  town  ; which, 
from  the  weak  defence  made  by  the  garrifon,  he  looked 
upon  as  already  in  his  hands.  But  while  the  divan 
were  deliberating  on  the  molt  proper  means  of  obtain- 
ing an  honourable  capitulation,  a mad  prophet,  attended 
by  a multitude  of  people,  entered  the  alfembiy,  and 
foretold  the  defir  uction  of  the  Spaniards  before  the 
end  of  the  moon,  exhorting  the  inhabitants  m K-’d 
out  till  that  time.  This  prediction  was  foon  accomplifhed 
in  a very  fumrifing  and  unexpected  manner ; lor,  oa 
the  28th  of  October  1541,  a dreadful  ilorm  of  wind, 
rain,  and  hail,  arofe  from  the  north,  accompanied  with 
violent  fhocks  of  earthquakes,  and  a difmal  and  uni- 
verfal  darknefs  both  by  fea  and  land  ; fo  that  the  fun, 
moon,  and  elements,  feemed  to  combine  together  for 
the  deftrudtion  of  the  Spaniards.  In  that  one  night, 
feme  fay  in  iefs  than  half  an  hour,  eighty  fix  (Lips  and 
fifteen  gallies  were  deftroyed,  with  all  their  crews  and 
military  (lores  ; by  which  the  army  on  fhore  was  de- 
prived of  ail  means  of  fubfiflence.  Their  camp  alio, 
which  fpread  itfelf  along  the  plain  under  their  fort,  was 
laid  quite  under  water  by  the  torrents  which  defeended 
from  the  neighbouring  hills.  Many  of  the  troops,  by 
trying  to  remove  into  fome  better  fttuation,  were  cut  to 


( 24  > 

pieces  by  the  Moors  and  Arabs ; while  feveral  gaitiess 
and  other  veffels,  endeavouring  to  gain  fome  neigh- 
bouring creeks  along  the  coaft,  were  immediately  plun- 
dered, and  their  crews  maffacred  by  the  inhabitants. 

Next  morning,  Charles  beheld  the  fea  covered  with, 
the  fragments  of  Ihips,  and  the  bodies  of  men,  horfes, 
and  other  creatures,  fv/imming  on  the  waves ; at  which 
he  was  fo  disheartened,  that  abandoning  his  tents,  ar- 
tillery, and  all  his  heavy  baggage,  to  the  enemy,  he 
marched  at  the  head  of  his  army,  in  no  fmall  diforder, 
towards  Cape  Mallabux,  in  order  to  reimbark  in  thofe 
veffels,  which  had  out-weathered  the  dorm.  But  Haf- 
fan,  who  had  watched  his  motions,  allowed  him  jud  time 
to  get  to  the  fhore,  when  he  tallied  out,  and  attacked 
the  Spanians  in  the  midft  of  their  hurry  to  get  into  their 
fhips.  He  killed  great  numbers,  and  brought  away  a 
dill  greater  number  of  captives  ; after  which  he  re- 
turned in  triumph  to  Algiers. 

Soon  after  this,  the  prophet  Yufef,  who  had  foretold 
the  dedrn&ion  of  the  Spaniards,  was  declared  the  de- 
liverer of  his  country,  and  had  a eonfiderable  gratuity 
decreed  him,  with  the  liberty  of  exercifmg  his  prophe- 
tic function  unmoleded,  It  was  not  long,  however, 
before  the  Marabouts,  and  forne  interpreters  of  the  law, 
made  a Ilrong  oppofition  againd  him,  remonflrating  to 
the  balhaw,  how  ridiculous  and  fcandalous  it  was  to 
their  nation,  to  aferibe  its  deliverance  to  a poor  for- 
tune-teller, which  had  been  obtained  by  the  fervent 
prayers  of  an  eminent  faint  of  their  own  profeffion. 
But  though  the  bafhaw  and  his  divan  feemed  out  of 
policy,  to  give  into  this  lad  notion,  yet  the  impreffion, 
which  the  prediction  of  Yufef  and  its  accompjifhment 
had  made  upon  the  minds  of  the  common  people, 
proved  too  flrong  to  be  eradicated ; and  the  fpirit  or 
divination  and  conjuring  has  ftnee  got  into  fuch  credit 
among  them,  that  not  only  their  great  flatefmen,  but 
their  prieds,  marabouts,  and  fantoons,  have  applied 
themfelves  to  that  ftudy,  and  dignified  it  \ ith  the  name 
of  Mahomet’s  Revelations. 

The  Spaniards  had  fcarce  reached  the  fhips,  when. 
$hey  were  attacked  by  a frdh  ftorm,  i;_  phich  fevera* 


( 25  ) 

more  of  them  periffied.  A veffel  in  particular,  conta-td 
ingfeven  hundred  foluiers,  befides  failors,  funic  in  the 
fight  of  Charles,  without  a poffibility  of  having  a fugle 
man.  At  length  with  much  labour,  they  reached  the 
port  of  Bujeyah.  They  hayed  no  longer  here  than  till 
the  fixteenrh  of  November,  when  they  fet  fail  for  Car- 
thagena,  and  reached  it  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  fame 
month.  In  this  unfortunate  expedition  upwards  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  flips  and  gallies  were  loft,  whh 
abovethreehundred  colonels  andotherofficers.anu  eight 
thoufand  foldiers  and  marines  befides  thofe  deftroy- 
ed  by  the  enemy  on  their  reiinbarkcnon,  or  drown- 
ed in  the  laft  form.  The  number  of  prifoners  wasfo 
great,  that  the  Algerines  fold  fome  of  them,  t y way  of 
contempt,  for  an  onion  per  head. 

From  this  time,  the  Spaniards  were  never  able  to  an- 
noy the  Algerines,  in  any  confiderabie  degree.  In  i ^55, 
they  loft  the  city  of  .Bujevah,  which  was  taken  by  Salab 
Bais,  fuccelfor  to  Haffan.  This  commander,  in  1556, 
fet  out  upon  a new  expedition,  fufpe&cd  to  be  againft 
Oran ; but  he  was  fcarcelv  got  four  leagues  from  Al- 
giers, when  the  plague,  which  at  that  time  raged  vio- 
lently in  the  city,  broke  out  in  his  groin,  and  luckily 
carried  him  off  in  tvvsn tv-four  hours. 

j 

Immediately  after  his  death,  the  Algerine  foldiery 
chofe  a Corfican  renegado,  Haffan  Corfo,  in  his  room, 
till  they  fhould  receive  further  orders  from  the  porte. 
He  did  not  accept  of  the  bafhawfhip  without  a good 
deal  of  difficulty,  but  immediately  profecuted  the  in- 
tended expedition  againit  Oran,diipatching  a meffenger 
to  acquaint  the  porte  with  what  had  happened.  The 
army  had  hardly  begun  their  hofliiities  againff  the  place, 
when  orders  came  from  the  porte,  exprefsly  forbidding 
Haffan  Corfo  to  begin  the  fiege,  or,  if  he  had  begun  it, 
enjoining  him  to  raife  it  immediately,  which  he  accor- 
dingly did. 

Corfo  had  enjoyed  his  dignity  for  four  months,  when. 
Tekelli,  a new  bafhavv,  arrived,  as  his  fucceffor  from 
Conflantinople.  The  Algerines  refolved  not  to  admit 
him ; but  by  the  treachery  of  the  Levantine  foldiers,  he 
at  laft  entered.  Corfo  was  thrown  over  a wall,  in  which 

D 


( 46  ) 

a number  of  iron  hooks  were  fixed.  One  of  thefe 
catching  the  ribs  of  his  fide,  he  hung  three  days  in 
horrid  agony,  before  he  expired.  “ We  meet  with 
<£  events  in  the  annals  of  mankind,  that  make  us  doubt 
sc  the  truth  of  the  mod  authentic  hiflory.  We  cannot 
e<  believe  that  fuch  actions  have  ever  been  committed 
“ by  the  inhabitants  of  this  globe,  and  by  creatures  of 
<c  the  fame  fpecies  with  ourfelves.  We  are  tempted  to 
think  we  are  perufing  the  records  of  hell.”* 

Tekelli  was  affaffinated  under  the  dome  of  a faint, 
by  Yufef  Galabres,  the  favourite  renegado  of  Haffan 
Corfo.  The  murderer  was  chofen  bafhaw,  but  died  of 
the  plague,  fix  days  after  his  election. 

Yufef  was  fucceeded  by  Haffan  the  fon  of  Hayradin 
Barbaroffa.  Not  long  after,  the  Spaniards  undertook 
an  expedition  againff  Moffagan  under  the  command  of 
the  count  d’Alcandela  ; but  were  utterly  defeated,  the 
commander  himfeif  killed,  and  twelve  thoufand  men 
taken  prifoners. Haffan  having  difobliged  his  fubjects, they 
fent  him  in  irons  to  Conftantinople,  while  two  Turkifh 
officers  fupplied  his  place.  Haffan  cleared  himfeif;  but 
Achmet,  a new  bafhaw,  was  appointed.  Upon  his  ar- 
rival at  Algiers,  he  fent  the  two  deputy  bafhaws  to 
Conftantinople,  where  their  heads  were  ftruck  off. 
Achmet,  in  four  months  died  ; and  Haffan  was  fent  a 
third  time  viceroy  to  Algiers. 

He  foon  engaged  in  the  fiege  of  Marfalquiver,poffeffed 
by  the  Spaniards,  and  fituated  near  the  city  of  Oran. 
The  Turkifh  ftandards  were  feveral  times  planted  on 
the  walls,  and  as  often  difloaged  ; but  in  the  end  Haffan 
was  obliged  to  raife  the  fiege. 

In  1 567,  Haffan  was  again  recalled  to  Conftantinople. 
His  fucceffor,  Mahomet,  incorporated  the  Janifaries  and 
Levantine  Turks  together.  He  thus  put  an  end  to  their 
diffentions,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Algerine 
independency  on  the  porte.  He  likewife  added  fome 
confiderable  fortifications  to  the  city  and  caftle,  which 
he  defigned  to  render  impregnable.  At  this  time,  one 

* View  of  Society  and  Manners  in  Italy,  by  Dr.  Moor£ 
Letter  16th. 


( *7  ) 

John  Gafcon,  a bold  Spanifh  adventurer,  formed  a do* 
fign  of  furprifmg  the  whole  piratic  navy  in  the  bay,  and 
fetting  them  on  fire  in  the  night  time.  He  had  the 
permiffion  of  Philip  II.  and  was  furnifhed  by  him  with 
velfels,  mariners,  and  fire-works,  for  the  execution  of 
his  plan.  He  fet  fail  for  Algiers  in  the  beginning  of 
O&ober,  when  mod,  if  not  all  the  fhips  lay  at  anchor 
there  ; and  advanced  near  enough,  unfufpe&ed,  to  view 
them.  He  came  accordingly,  unperceived  by  any,  to 
the  very  mole  gate,  and  difpatched  his  men  with  their 
fire-works ; but  thefe  werefo  ill  mixed,  that  they  could 
ijot  be  kindled.  Gafcon  finding  himfeif  difcovered, 
and  in  the  utmofl  danger,  failed  away  with  all  poffible 
hafte  ; but  he  was  purfued,  overtaken,  • and  brought 
back  a prifoner.  Mahomet  immediately  caufed 
a gibbet  to  be  erefled  on  the  fpot  where  Gafcon 
had  landed,  and  hung  him  by  the  feet  upon  a hook, 
with  his  royal  commiflion  tied  to  his  toes.  He  had  not 
been  long  fufpended,  when  the  captain  who  made  him 
prifoner,  and  a number  of  other  corfairs,  interceded  fo 
flrongly  in  his  behalf,  that  he  was  taken  down,  and 
put  under  the  care  of  fame  Chriftian  furgeons ; but  two 
days  after,  fome  Moors  having  reported  as  the  common 
talk  and  belief  in  Spain,  that  the  Algerines  durfl  not 
hurt  a hair  of  Gafcon’s  head,  he  was  hoiked  up  by  a 
pulley  to  the  top  of  the  execution  wall,  and  thrown  down 
again.  In  his  fall,  a hook  catched  him  by  the  belly, 
and  gave  him  a wound,  of  which  he  inftantly  ex^ 
pired. 

Mahomet  was  fucceeded  by  Ochali,  a renegado,  who 
reduced  the  kingdom  of  Tunis.  It  remained  fubjectta 
the  viceroy  of  Algiers  only  till  the  year  1586,  when  a 
bafhaw  of  Tunis  was  appointed  by  the  Sultan. 

Algiers  continued  to  be  governed,  till  the  beginning 
of  the  feventeenth  century,  by  Turkifh  viceroys  or 
bafhaws.  At  laft,  the  Turkifh  Janifaries  and  militia 
becoming  powerful  enough  to  fupprefs  the  tyrannic 
fway  of  thofe  bafhaws,  they  fent  a deputation  of  fome 
of  their  chief  members  to  Conftantinople  to  complain 
of  their  rapacity.  They  reprefented  to  the  miniftry? 
how.  much  more  honourable  it  would  be  for  the  grand: 


. ( *8  ) 

Seignior  to  permit  them  to  chufe  their  own  dey, or  gover- 
nor, from  among  themfoives,  whofe  intered  it  would 
te  to  fee  thm  the  revenue  of  the  country  was  rightly 
applied  in  keeping  up  its  forces  con.  . tc.  and  in  Sup- 
lying  all  other  exigencies  of  the  flare,  v .he  ut  ary  farther 
charge  or  trouble  to  the  porte,  than  that  ofallowing 
them  its  protection.  Algiers  was  to  be  wholly  leit  under 
the  direction  cf  the  dey  and  his  divan.  The  power  of 
the  Turkifh  bafhaw  was  to  be  reduced  to  a fhadow. 

Thefe  proporals  were  accepted  by  the  porte.  The  divan, 
eleded  a dey  from  among  themfelves.  They  compiled 
a new  let  of  laws  and  made  feveral  regulations  for  tha 
better  fupport  and  maintenance  of  this  new  form  of 
government.  The  Subsequent  altercations  that  frequent- 
ly happened  between  the  bafhaws  and  devs,  the  one 
endeavouring  to  recover  their  former  power,  and  the 
other  to  curtail  it,  cawed  fuch  frequent  complaints  and 
discontents  at  the  Ottoman  court,  as  made  them  Some- 
th, es  repent  of  their  compliance. 

In  the  year  1 60 1,  the  Spaniards  made  another  attempt 
upon  Algiers.  Their  fleet  was  driven  back  by  contrary 
winds,  fo  that  they  came  off  without  lofs.  In  1609, 
the  Moors  being  expelled  from  Spain,  flocked  ip  great 
numbers  to  Algiers  ; and  as  many  of  them  were  very 
able  failors,  they  undoubtedly  contributed  to  make  the 
Algerine  fleet  fo  formidable  as  it  became  foon 
alter . In  1616,  their  fleet  confided  of  forty  fhips  be- 
tween two  hundred  and  four  hundred  tons  burthen,  and 
their  admiral  was  five  hundred  tons,  it  was  divided 
into  two  fquadrons,  one  of  eighteen  fail,  dationed  be- 
fore the  port  of  Malaga;  and  the  other  at  the  Cape  of 
Santa  M wia,  between  Liffcon  and  Seville ; both  of 
which  attacked  Chri.tian  {hips,  both  Englifh  and 
French,  with  whom  they  oretended  to  be  in  rriendfhip, 
as  well  as  Spaniards,  and  Portuguese,  with  whom  they 
were  at  war. 

1 he  Algerines  were  now  become  formidable  to  the 
European  powers.  The  Spaniards,  who  were  mod  in 
danger,  Solicited  the  adiltance  of  England,  the  Pope, 
and  other  dates.  The  French,  however,  were  the  firft 
'wko  dared  to  fhew  their  refentment  at  the  perfidious 


( 29  ) 

behaviour  of  thefe  mifcreants;  and  in  1617,  M.  Bean* 
lieu  was  Tent  againft  them  with  a fleet  of  fifty  men  of 
war.  He  defeated  their  fleet,  and  took  two  of  their 
veflels.  Their  admiral  funk  his  own  At  ip  and  crew, 
rather  than  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

In  1620,  a fquadron  of  Englifh  men  of  war  wTas  fent 
againft  Algiers,  but  did  nothing.  The  Algerines,  be- 
coming more  infolent,  openly  defied  all  the  European 
powers,  the  Dutch  only  excepted,  to  whom,  in  1625, 
they  lent  a propofal,  that  in  cafe  they  would  fit  out 
twenty  fail  of  fhips  in  the  following  year,  upon  any 
fervice  againft  the  Spaniards,  the  corlairs  w<3uld  join 
•them  with  fixty  fail. 

Next  year;  the  Cologlies,  or  children  of  fuch  Turks 
as  had  been  permitted  to  marry  at  Algiers,  who  were 
inrolled  in  the  militia,  feized  on  the  citadel,  and  had 
well  nigh  made  themfelves  mailers  of  the  city.  They 
were  attacked  by  the  Turks  and  renegadoes,  who 
defeated  them  with  terrible  daughter.  Numbers 
were  executed,  and  their  heads  thrown  in  heaps  on  the 
city  walls. 

In  1623,  the  Algerines  and  other  dates  of  Barbary,, 
threw  off  their  dependence  on  the  porte.  Sultan  Amu- 
rath  IV. had  been  obliged  to  make  a truce  fur  twenty  five 
years, with  the  emperor  Ferdinand  il.As  this  put  a flop  to 
the  piratical  trade  of  the  Algerines,  they  proceeded  as 
above  mentioned ; and  refolved,  that  whoever  defired 
to  be  at  peace  with  them,  muft,  feparatelv,  apply  to  their 
own  government.  They  began  to  make  prizes  of  fe- 
veral  merchant  {hips  belonging  to  the  powers  at  peace 
with  the  porte.  They  feized  aDutchinip  and  po-leacre 
at  Scanderoon  ; they  even  ventured  on  fliore,  and  find-* 
ing  the  towm  abandoned  by  the  Turkifh  aga  and  inha- 
bitants, they  plundered  all, the  magazines  and  ware-hou- 
fes,  and  fet  them  on  fire.  About  this  time,  Louis  XIII. 
undertook  to  build  a fort  on  their  coafts,  inftead  of  one 
formerly  built  by  the  Marfilians,  and  which  had  been 
demolifhed.  This,  after  foroe  difficulty,  he  accomplifhed; 
and  it  was  called  the  Baftion  of  France,  but  the  fitua- 
tion  being  found  inconvenient,  the  French  purchafed 
the  port  of  La  Calle,  and  obtained  liberty  to  trade  with. 


. ( 5®  ) 

the  Arabians  and  Moors.  The  Ottoman  court,  in  the 
mean  time,  was  fo  much  embarrafTed  with  a Perfian  war, 
that  there  was  no  leifure  to  check  the  Algerines  pira- 
cies. This  gave  an  opportunity  to  the  vizir  and  other 
courtiers  to  compound  matters  with  the  Algerines,  and 
to  get  a (hare  of  the  prizes,  which  were  very  confide- 
pable.  For  the  fake  of  form  a fevere  reprimand,  ac- 
companied with  threats,  was  fent  them.  They  replied, 
that  44  they  deferred  to  be  indulged  in  thefe  depredati- 
“ ons,  as  they  were  the  only  bulwark  againft  the  Chrif- 
44  tian  powers,  and  in  particular,  againft  the  Spaniards, 
44  the  fworn  enemies  of  the  Modern  name.”  They 
added,  that 44  if  they  fhould  pay  a punctilious  regard  to 
44  all  who  could  purchafe  liberty  to  trade  with  the  Ot- 
44  toman  empire,  they  wcmld  have  nothing  to  do  but 
44  fet  fire  to  their  fhipping,  and  turn  camel-drivers.” 

In  the  year  1635,  four  brothers  of  a family  in  France, 
entered  into  an  undertaking  fo  defperate,  that  perhaps 
the  annals  of  knight-errantry  can  fcarcely  furnifh  its 
equal.  This  was  no  lefs  than  to  retort  the  piracies  of 
the  Algerines,  upon  themfelves ; and  as  they  indiferi- 
minately  took  the  fhips  of  all  nations,  fo  were  thefe 
heroes  indiferiminately  to  take  the  fhips  belonging  to 
Algiers  ; and  this  with  a finall  frigate  of  ten  guns ! An 
hundred  volunteers  embarked  ; a Maltefe  commiflion 
was  obtained,  with  an  able  matter,  and  thirty  mariners. 
On  their  firft  fetting  out,  they  took,  on  the  Spanifh 
coafl,  a fhip  laden  with  wine.  Three  days  after,  they 
engaged  two  large  Algerine  corfairs,  one  of  twenty  and 
the  other  of  twenty-four  guns.  The  French  made  fo 
defperate  a refiftance,  that  the  pirates  were  not  able  to 
take  them,  till  five  other  corfairs  came  up.  The  French 
veffel,  being  almofl  torn  to  pieces,  was  then  boarded 
and  taken.  In  1642,  the  brothers  redeemed  themfelves, 
at  the  price  of  fix  thoufand  dollars. 

In  1637,  the  Algerines  infefted  the  Britifh  channel; 
and,  according  to  Mrs  Macauley,  * had  made  fuch  a 
vaff  number  of  captures,  as  to  have  at  one  time,  be- 
tween four  and  five  thoufand  fubjects  of  England  prU 
foners. 


* Hiflory  of  England  vol.  II.  chap.  4. 


( 31  ) 

The  Algerines  profecuted  their  piracies  with  impu~ 
nity,  to  the  terror  and  difgrace  of  Chriftendom,  till 
the  year  1652  ; when  a French  fleet  being  accidentally 
driven  to  Algiers,  the  admiral  took  it  into  his  head  to 
demand  a releafe  of  all  the  captives  of  his  nation  with- 
out exception.  This  being  refufed,  the  Frenchman 
without  ceremony  carried  off  the  Turkifh  viceroy,  and 
his  cadi  or  judge,  who  were  juft  arrived  from  the  porte, 
with  all  their  equipage  and  retinue.  The  Algerines,  by 
way  of  reprifal,  furprifed  theBaftion  of  France  already 
mentioned,  and  carried  off  the  inhabitants  to  the  num- 
ber of  fix  hundred,  with  all  their  effeiffs.  Upon  this, 
the  admiral  fent  them  word,  that  he  w'ould  pay  them 
another  vifit,  next  year,  with  his  whole  fleet. 

The  Algerines  fitted  out  a fleet  of  flxteen  galleys  and 
galliots,  under  the  command  of  Hali  Pinchinin.  The 
chief  defign  of  this  armament  was  againft  the  treafure 
of  Loretto ; which  they  were  prevented  by  contrary 
winds  from  obtaining.  Hereupon  they  made  a defcent 
on  Puglia  in  the  kingdom  of  Naples ; where  they  ra- 
vaged the  whole  territory  of  Necotra.  They  carried 
off  a vaft  number  of  captives.  Thence  fleering  towards 
Dalmatia,  they  fcoured  the  Adriatic,  and  loaded  them- 
felves  with  immenfe  plunder. 

The  Venetians,  alarmed~at  fuch  ravages,  equipped  a 
fleet  of  twenty-eight  fail,  under  the  command  of  admi- 
ral Capello,  with  exprefs  orders  to  burn,  fink,  or  take, 
all  the  Barbary  corfairs  which  he  met  with,  either  on 
the  open  feas,  or  even  in  the  Ottoman  harbours,  agree- 
able to  a late  treaty  of  peace  with  the  porte.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  captain  bafhaw,  who  had  been  fent  out 
with  a Turkifh  fleet  to  chace  the  Florentine  andMaltefe 
cruifers  from  the  Archipelago,  learning  that  the  Al- 
gerine fquadron  was  fo  near,  fent  exprefs  orders  to  the 
admiral  to  come  to  his  afliftance.  Pinchinin  readily 
agreed  ; but  he  was  overtaken  by  Capello,  from  whom 
he  retired  to  Valona,  a fea-port  belonging  to  the  grand 
feignior,  whither  the  Venetian  admiral  purfued  him  j 
but  the  Turkifh  governor  refufing  to  turnoutthe  pirates, 
according  to  the  articles  of  the  peace  between  the  Ot- 
toman court  and  Venice,  Capello  was  obliged  to  con- 


( 3*  ) 

tent  hzmfelf  with  watching  them  for  fome  time.PinchL 
nin  foon  ventured  out, an  engagement  immediately  en- 
fued,anithe  Algerines  were  defeated.Five-ofthe  rvefels 
Were  difabled ; one  thoufand  five  hundred  men,  Turks,, 
and  Chriftian  flaves,  were  killed;  befides  one  thoufand 
fix  hundred  galley  flaves  who  regained  their  liberty. 
Pinchinin,  after  this  defeat,  returned  to  Valona,  where 
he  was  again  watched  by  Capello,  but  the  latter  had  not 
lain  long  at  his  old  anchorage,  before  he  received  a let- 
ter from  the  fenate,  defiring  him  to  make  no  farther 
attempt  on  the  pirates  at  that  time,  for  fear  of  a rupture 
with  the  porte.  Capello  was  forced  to  fubmit ; but 
refolving  to  take  fuch  a leave  of  the  Algerines  as  he 
thought  they  deferved,  obferved  how  they  had  reared 
their  tents,  and  drawn  their  booty  and  equipage  along 
the  fhore.  He  then  kept  firing  among  their  tents,  while 
fome  well  manned  galliots  and  brigantines  were  dip- 
patched  to  attack  their  flipping.  Sixteen  gallies,  with 
all  their  cannon,  and  fores,  were  towed  out.  In  this 
lafl  engagement,  a ball  from  one  of  the  Venetian  gal- 
lies, ftruck  a Turkifi  mofque,  and  hence,  the  whole  ac- 
tion was  confidered  as  an  infult  to  the  grand  feignior. 
To  conceal  this,  Capello  was  ordered  to  fink  all  thj  Al- 
gerine flips  that  he  had  taken,  except  the  admit  al ; 
which  was  to  be  conduced  to  Venice,  and  laid  up  as  a 
trophy.  Capello  received  a fevere  reprimand,  and  the 
Venetians  were  obliged  to  buy,  with  five  hundred  thou- 
fand  ducats,  a peace  from  the  porte. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  news  of  this  defeat  and  lofs 
filled  Algiers  with  rage  and  confufion.  The  city  was 
on  the  point  of  an  infurrection,  when  the  bafliaw  pub- 
lifhed  a proclamation,  forbidding,  not  only  complaints 
and  outcries,  under  the  feve:*eft  penalties,  but  all  per- 
fons  whatever  to  take  their  thumbs  from  within  their 
girdles,  while  they  were  deliberating  on  this  fubjech 
They  applied  to  the  porte  for  an  order, that  the  Venetians 
fettled  in  the  Levant,  fhould  make  up  their  lofs.  But 
with  this  the  grand  feignior  refufed  to  comply,  and  left 
them  to  repair  their  Ioffes,  and  to  build  new  flips  in  the 
beft  manner  that  they  could.  It  was  not  long,  however, 
before  they  had  th-e  fatisfadlion  of  feeing  one  ot  their 


( S3  ) 

tend,  with  a frefh  fupply  of  fix  hundred  flaves* 
whom  he  had  brought  from  the  coaft  of  Iceland, 
whither  he  had  been  dire&ed  by  a mifcreant  native 
taken  on  board  a Danifii  fhip. 


Chapter  IV. 

Pinchinin.  His  engagement  with  a Dutch  Jhip.  Bombard* 
ment  and  Dejlrudion  of  Algiers , by  the  French . k Defeat 
of  the  Spaniards. 

THE  pirates  did  not  long  continue  in  their  weak 
and  defencelefs  ftate ; being  able,  at  the  end  of 
two  years,  to  appear  at  fea  with  a fleet  of  fixty  five 
fail.  The  Admiral  Pinchinin  equipped  four  galliots  at 
his  own  expence  ; with  which,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Chiayah  or  fecretary  of  the  bafhaw  of  Tripoli  j he  made 
a fecond  excurfion.  This  fmall  fquadron,  confuting 
of  five  galleys  and  two  brigantines,  fell  in  with  an 
Englifh  {hip  of  forty  guns ; which,  however,  Pinchi# 
nin’s  captains  refufed  to  engage,  but  being  afterward^ 
reproached  by  him  for  their  cowardice,  they  fwore  to 
attack  the  next  Chriftian  fhip  that  came  in  their  way. 
This  happendd  to  be  a Dutch  merchantman,  of  twenty 
eight  guns  and  forty  men,  deeply  laden,  and  difabled 
by  a calm  from  ufing  her  fails.  Pinchinin  immediate* 
ly  fummoned  her  to  furrender  ; but  receiving  an  ironi- 
cal anfwer,  drew  up  his  fquadron  in  form  of  an  half 
moon,  that  they  might  pour  their  fhot  all  at  once  into 
their  adverfary.  This,  however,  the  Dutchman  avoided, 
by  means  of  a breeze  of  wind  which  fortunately  fprung 
up  and  enabled  him  to  turn  his  fhip ; by  which  the 
galleys  ran  foul  of  each  other.  Upon  this  Pinchinin 
van  his  own  galley  along  fide  the  merchantman,  the 
upper  deck  of  which  feventy  Algerines  immediately  took 
pofleflion  of,  fome  of  them  cutting  the  rigging,  others 
plying  the  hatches  with  hand-grenadoes;  but  the  Dutch 
having  fecured  themfelves  in  their  clofe  quarters, 
began  to  fire  at  the  Algerines  on  board,  from  two  pie- 
ces of  cannon  loaded  with  fmall^fhot  $ by  which  they 


( 34  ) 

^ere  all  loon  killed  or  forced  to  fubmlt.  Pinchinin,  hs 
the  mean  time,  made  feveral  unfuccefsful  attempts  to 
relieve  his  men,  as  well  as  to  furround  the  Dutch  with 
his  other  galleys;  but  their  Ihip  lay  fo  deep  in  the  water, 
that  every  (hot  did  terrible  execution  among  the  pirates; 
fo  that  they  were  obliged  to  remove  farther  off.  At  laff 
the  Dutch  captain,  having  ordered  his  guns  to  be  loaded 
with  cartouches,  gave  them  a parting  volley  which  kil- 
led, as  itisfaid,  two  hundred  of  them,  and  lent  the  reft 
back  to  Algiers  in  a difmal  condition. 

But  though  Pinchinin  thus  returned  in  difgrace,  the 
reft  of  the  fleet  quickly  came  back  with  vaft  numbers  of 
Haves,  and  an  immenfe  quantity  of  rich  fpoils ; in  fo 
much  that  the  Englilh,  French,  and  Dutch,  were 
obliged  to  cringe  to  the  Algerines,  who  fometimes  con- 
defcended  to  be  at  peace  with  them,  but  fwore  eternal 
war  againft  Spain,  Portugal,  and  Italy,  whom  they 
confidered  as  the  greateft  enemies  to  the  Mahometan 
name.  At  laft  Lewis  the  fourteenth,  provoked  by  the 
grievous  outrages  committed  by  the  Algerines  on  the 
coafts  of  Provence  and  Languedoc,,  ordered,  in  16S1, 
a confiderable  fleet  to  be  fitted  out  againft  them,  under 
the  Marquis  du  Quefne,  vice  admiral  of  France.  His 
firft  expedition  was  againft  a number  of  Tripolitan 
corfairs  ; who  had  the  good  fortune  to  outrow  him, 
and  fhelter  themfelves  iu  the  ifland  of  Scio  belonging 
to  the  Turks.  This  did  not  prevent  him  from  pur- 
ging them  thifher,and  making  fuch  a terrible  fire  upon 
them,  as  deftroyed  fourteen  of  their  veffels,  befides 
battering  the  walls  of  the  caftle. 

This  feverity  feerned  only  to  be  defigned  as  a check 
to  the  piracies  of  the  Algerines ; but,  finding  that  they 
Hill  continued  their  outrages  on  the  French  coaft,  Du 
Quefne  failed  in  Auguft,  1682,  to  Algiers, cannonading 
and  bombarding  it"  fo  furioufly,  that,  in  a very  Ihort 
time,  the  whole  town  was  in  flames.  The  great  mofque 
was  battered  down,  and  mod  of  the  houfes  laid  in 
ruins,  fo  that  the  inhabitants  were  on  the  point 
of  abandoning  the  place ; when,  on  a fudden,  the 
wind  turned  about.and  obliged  Du  Quefne  to  return  to 
Toulon*  The  Algerines  immediately  made  reprifels. 


< 35  ) 

'fending  a number  of  galleys  and  galliots  to  the 
coads  of  Provence,  where  they  committed  the  mcffc 
dreadful  ravages,  and  brought  away  a vad  number  of 
captives  ; upon  which  a new  armament  was  ordered  to 
be  got  ready  at  Toulon  and  Marfeilles,  againd  them  the 
next  year  ; and  the  Algerines,  having  received  early 
notice,  put  themfelves  into  as  good  a date  of  defence  as 
the  time  would  allow. 

In  May.,  1683,  Du  Quefne  with  his  fquadron  cad  an- 
chor before  Algiers ; where,  being  joined  by  the  mar- 
quis d’Adranville,  at  the  head  of  five  drong  vefieis,  it 
was  refolved  to  bombard  the  town  next  day,  when 
accordingly,  one  hundred  bombs  were  thrown  into  it 
which  did  terrible  execution,  while  the  bedewed 
made  fome  hundred  difcharges  of  their  cannon  againd: 
the  aflailants,  without  doing  any  confiderable  damage. 
The  following  night, bombs  w'ere  again  thrown  into  the 
city  in  fuch  numbers,  that  the  dey’s  palace  and  other 
great  edifices  were  almod  deftroyed ; fome  of  the 
batteries  were  difinounted,  and  feveral  veflels  funk  in 
the  port.  The  dey,  and  Turkilh  badiaw,  as  w'ell  as  the 
whole  foldiery, alarmed  at  this  dreadful  havock,immedi- 
ly  fued  for  peace.  As  a preliminary,  the  French  in- 
fided  on  the  furrender  of  all  Chridian  captives  who  had 
been  taken  fighting  under  their  flag,  which  being  grant- 
ed, one  hundred  and  forty  tw'o  perfons  w'ere  direft- 
ly  delivered  up,  with  a promife  of  fending  on  board 
the  remainder,  as  foon  as  they  could  be  got  from  the 
different  parts  of  the  country.  Accordingly  Du  Quefne 
fent  his  commiflary -general  and  one  of  his  engineers 
into  the  town ; but  with  exprefs  orders  to  infill:  upon 
the  delivery  of  all  the  French  captives  without  excep- 
ception,  together  with  the  effefts  that  had  been  taken 
from  the  French  ; and  that  Mezomorto  their  then  ad- 
miral, and  Hali  Rais  one  of  their  captains,  flrouid  be 
given  as  hodages. 

This  lad  demand  having  embarrafled  the  dey,  he  af- 
fembled  the  divan,  and  acquainted  them  with  it*  Upon 
this  Mezomorto  fell  into  a violent  paflion,  and  told 
the  aflfembly,  that  the  cowardice  of  thofe  who  fat  at  the 
ijfeUn  had  occafioned  the  ruin  of  Algiers  5 but,  that  foJi 


( 3«  ) 

feis  part,  he  would  never  confent  to  deliver  up  any 
thing  that  was  taken  from  the  French.  Heimmadiete- 
ly  acquainted  the  foldiery  with  what  had  paffed  ; which 
fo  exafperated  them,  that  they  murdered  the  dey  that 
very  night,  and  on  the  morrow  chofe  Mezomorto  in 
his  place.  This  was  no  fooner  done,  than  he  cancelled 
all  the  articles  of  peace  which  had  been  made,  and  hof- 
tilities  were  renewed  with  greater  fury  than  ever. 

The  French  admiral  now  kept  pouring  in  fuch  volleys 
of  bombs,  that  in  lefs  than  three  days,  the  greateft  part 
of  the  city  was  reduced  to  aihes ; and  the  fire  burnt 
with  fuch  fury,  that  the  fea  was  enlightened  for 
more  than  two  leagues  round.  Mezomorto,  unmoved 
by  all  thefe  dilafters,  and  the  vaft  numbers  of  the  flam, 
whofe  blood  ran  in  rivulets  along  the  ftreets ; or  rather, 
grown  furious  and  defperate,  fought  only  how  to  wreak 
his  revenge  on  the  enemy ; and,  not  content  with  cauf- 
ing  all  the  French  in  the  city  to  be  cruelly  murdered, 
he  ordered  their  conful  to  be  tied  hand  and  foot, and  faf- 
tened  alive  to  the  mouth  of  a mortar,  from  which  he 
was  {hot  away  againfl:  their  navy.  By  this  piece  of  in- 
humanity, Du  Quefne  was  fo  exafperated,  that  he  did 
did  not  leave  Algiers  till  he  had  utterly  deftroyed  all 
their  fortifications,  {hipping,  almofl:  all  the  lower  part, 
and  above  two  thirds  of  the  upper  part  of  the  city ; 
which  became  little  more  than  an  heap  of  ruins. 

The  Algerines  were  now  thoroughly  convinced 
that  they  were  not  invincible ; and,  therefore,  immedi- 
ately fent  an  embafly  into  France,  begging  in  the 
moft  abjeft  terms  for  peace  ; which  Lewis  very  foon 
granted,  to  their  inexpreffible  joy.  They  now  began 
to  pay  fome  regard  to  other  nations,  and  to  be  fome- 
tvhat  cautious  how  they  wantonly  provoked  their  dif- 
pleafure.  The  firft  bombardment  by  the  French  had 
fo  far  humbled  the  Algerines,  that  they  condefcended 
, to  enter  into  a treaty  with  England  ; which  was  in  1 686 
renewed  upon  terms  very  advantageous  to  the  latter, 
tl  is  not  to  be  fuppofed,  however,  that  the  natural  per- 
fidy of  the  Algerines  would  difappear  on  a fudden. 
Notwithftanding  this  treaty,  therefore,  they  loft  »o 


X 37  ? 

«pportuRity  of  making  prizes  of  Englifli  {hips*  wheJ* 
they  could  conveniently  feize  them.  Upon  fome  in- 
fringement of  this  kind,  captain  Beach,  in  1695,  drove 
afhore  and  burned  feven  of  their  frigates  which  pro- 
duced a renewal  of  the  treaty  five  years  after ; but  it 
was  not  until  the  taking  of  Gibraltar  and  Port  Mahon, 
that  Britain  could  have  a fufficient  check  upon  them  to 
enforce  the  obfervation  of  treaties  ; and  thefe  have  fince 
■proved  fuch  refhaints  upon  Algiers,  that  they  {till  con- 
tinue to  pay  a greater  deference  to  the  Englifh  than  to 
any  other  European  power. 

In  1708,  Oran,  as  has  been  already  related,  was  taken 
by  the  Algerines  from  the  Spaniards,  and  recovered  by 
the  latter  in  1732.  The  Turkifh  bafhawwas  in  1710, 
finally  expelled. 

Since  the  laft  fiege  of  Oran  the  moft  remarkable 
event  in  the  annals  of  Barbary  is  the  attack  of  Algiers, 
by  the  Spaniards  in  the  year  1775.  With  a concife  ac- 
count of  that  expedition,  we  fhall  clofe  this  chapter  of 
blood. 

On  the  23d  of  June  1775,  a fleet  of  fix  fhips  of  the 
line,  twelve  frigates  and  thirty  three  other  armed  vefiels 
fet  fail  from  Carthagena,  in  Spain,  to  attack  Algiers. 
There  was  on  board  a body  of  troops  amounting  to  twen- 
ty four  thoufand  four  hundred  and  foFty  feven  men,  in- 
cluding infantry,  cavalry,  marines,  and  fix  hundred 
deferters  deflined  to  ferve.  as  workmen.  They  were 
commanded  by  the  count  O’Reilly,  a perfonal  favourite 
.of  the  late  king  of  Spain.  They  had  likewife  for  the 
land  fervice,  an  hundred  and  feventy-fix  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, mortars,  and  howitzers, with  a fuitable  quantity 
of  military  {lores.  On  the  30th  of  June,  and  ift  of 
July,  they  anchored  in  the  bay  of  Algiers.  They  ob- 
ferved  a large  encampment,  placed  behind  a battery, 
eaft  of  the  river  Xarach,  which  runs  on  the  eaflward  of 
the  city.  On  the  2d  of  July,  a council  was  held  ; and 
orders  were  given  that  the  troops  (hould  hold  them- 
- felves  in  readinefs  to  difembark  next  morning,  by  day 
break.  But  as  the  fucceeding  night  was  windy,  and  a 
..well  had  fet  in  from  the  fhore,  thefe  orders  were  coun- 
termanded. From  this  day,  to  the  6th,  there  were  fre- 


f 38  ) 

•^jtient  councils,  violent  debates,  and  nothing  done.  A 
quarrel  broke  out  between  O’Reilly  and  the  Marquis 
de  Romana,  a Spanilh  major-general,  who  was  killed  in 
the  fubfequeiit  aftion.  On  the  6th,  the  principal  officers 
Vvere  again  affembled,  to  receive  their  ultimate. induc- 
tions. The  commander  in  chief  warned  the  army,  that 
it  was  the  cuftom  of  the  Moors,  to  pretend  a molt  violent 
attack,  and  on  the  fmalleft  refiftance,  to  fly  with  preci- 
pitation, that  they  might  draw  the  enemy  into  an  am- 
bufcade.  He  cautioned  the  troops  not  to  break  their 
ranks, as  nothing  but  the  force  of  difcipline  could  fecure 
them  againft  fo  active  an  enemy.  He  pointed  out  the 
very  error  which  they  foon  after  committed,  and  the 
fnare  into  which  they  were  betrayed.  On  landing,  the 
army  was  diredled  to  gain  fome  heights,  which  were  fup- 
pofed  requiiite  ro  enfure  fuccefs  againft  Algiers.  In  the 
afternoon  of  the  6th,  fome  fhips  of  war  were  ordered 
to  fire  againft  three  batteries  to  the  eaftward  of  that 
city.  This  commiflion  was  executed  with  fo  much  lau- 
dable attention  to  the  perfonal  fafety  of  the  affailants,  if 
fuch  we  may  term  them,  that  their  Ihot  did  not  reach  the 
Jhore , thofe  of  one  feventy-four  gun  fhip  excepted.  At 
fun-fet  this  formidable  attack  ceafed. 

On  the  7th  at  day -break,  between  eight  and  nine 
thoufand  men  were  put  on  board  the  boats  for  landing. 
They  advanced,  under  the  protection  of  fome  larger 
veffels  very  near  the  coaft.  Not  a Moor  appeared  to 
oppofe  them  ; and  at  feven  o’clock  in  the  morning,  they 
returned  on  hoard  the  tran/ports.  Not  a fhot  was  fired  on 
either  fide,  during  the  whole  day. 

On  the  8th,  at  day-break,  the  fhips  being  ftarioned  t© 
batter  the  different  forts  to  the  right  and  left  of  the 
place  of  difembarkation,  the  troops,  to  the  number  of 
about  eight  thoufand,  were  put  on  board  the  boats  ; 
which  formed  in  fix  columns.  The  place  of  landing 
was  a league  and  an  half  to  the  eaftward  of  the  city  of 
Algiers.  Eighty  thoufand  Moors,  of  whom  two  thirds 
were  cavalry,  came  in  fight,  but  did  not  attempt  to  op- 
pofe the  landing  of  the  Spaniih  forces.  It  is  laid,  that 
the 'whole  number  of  Africans  colle&ed  on  this  occa- 

to 


C 39  ) 

fion,  was  not  Jels  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thoufimd, 
The  troops  advanced  into  a clofe  country,  which  the 
Algerines  had  occupied  in  fmall  parties.  The  gre- 
nadiers and  light  infantry  of  the  Spaniards  were  re* 
pulfed,  and  the  whole  body  fell  into  confufion.  In  a. 
very  fhort  time  they  fled,  leaving  behind  them  a great 
number  of  killed  and  wounded.  The  latter,  a few 
excepted,  were,  in  fpite  of  their  intreaties,  left  to  the 
mercy  of  the  conquerors.  Part  of  a fecond  embarka- 
tion of  troops  added  to  the  general  confufion.  A third 
body  had  caff  up  an  entrenchment  on  the  fhore,  for  the 
protection  of  the  army.  The  Africans  attacked  it,  but 
were  driven  back  with  great  daughter  on  both  fides. 
The  Spaniards,  in  their  gazette,  acknowledged  the  lofs 
of  five  hundred  and  twenty  one  men  killed  .and  tvothou- 
fand  two  hundred  and  feventy  nine  wounded.  It  is  faid, 
that  the  Algerines  had  between  five  and  fix  thoufand 
menflain  on  the  fpot.The  wounded  Spaniards, whowere 
left  on  the  field  of  battle,  were  every  one  murdered  by 
the  enemy.  The  government  of  Algiers  had  offered 
ten  zequins  for  the  head  of  each  Spaniard.  Fifteen 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  three  howitzers  were  left  behind 
bv  there  unfortunate  invaders.  The  real  amount  of 
their  lofs  can  hardly  have  been  lefs  than  three  thoufand 
lives,  and  was  perhaps  confiderably  greater.  In  the  ga- 
zette of  a court,  we  feldorn  expect  an  honefl  reck- 
oning of  this  kind.  If  the  writer  of  that  of  Madrid 
intended  us  to  believe  that  two  thoufand  two  hundred 
and  feventy-nine  of  the  woundedwere  brought  off,  the 
officer  from  whofe  journal  this  account  is  extracted, 
favs  that  a much  greater  number  were  left  behind,  than, 
were  fared,  which  makes  the  ftory  worfe  and  worfe.  On 
details  of  this  kind,  we  cannot  dwell  with  pleafure. 
One  circumftance  is  evident,  that  the  Spanifh  comman- 
ders did  not  understand  their  bufinefs.* 

* This  narrative  ks  extracted  from  a journal  printed  by 
major  Wiluam  Dalrymple,  at  the  end  of  his  Travels  through 
JSpain  and  Portugal,  printed  at  London,  in  1 777.  The  trite 
tale  of  adey  of  A'giers  having  offered  toburn  the  city  for  fifty 
shoufand  p.ounds,  is  a deipicable  newspaper  fiction. 


( 40  y 


Chapter  V. 

State  of  America  as  to  Algiers.  Conduct  of  Britain. 
Concluding  Remarks . 

IN  the  two  lad  Chapters,  we  have  feen  the  Algerines 
fucceflively  fet  at  defiance,  feveral  of  the  mod  for- 
midable nations  of  Europe.  When  the  United  States 
of  America  had  obtained  their  infant  independence,  it 
was  naturally  to  be  expe&ed,  that  they  alfo  fhould,  ia 
fome  degree,  fuffer,  by  the  ravages  of  the  corfairs. 
Various  circumdances  pointed  them  out,  as  eligible 
objefts  of  piratical  rapine.  They  poffefied  an  extenfir* 
trade  with  Europe,  which  in  the  fird  place,  prefented 
a fplended  temptation  to  plunder.  There  was,  on 
the  part  of  the  Algerines,  a fecond  and  irrefiftible 
motive  to  hadilities.  America  did  not  fupport,  at  her 
national  expence,  any  maritime  force  whatever  ; and 
thirdly,  had  Ihe  even  eftablifhed  an  armed  navy,  this 
«ountry  lies  at  the  diftance  of  more  than  three  thoufand 
miles,  from  the  common  range  of  the  privateers  of 
Barbary.  Hence,  to  reduce  them  to  fubmiflion,  mud 
always  require  a proportion  of  trouble  and  expenc* 
greatly  fuperior  to  the  fubftantial  magnitude  of  the  ob- 
ject of  attack ; and  this  remotenefs  of  our  fituation 
might  be  confidered  as  an  additional  inducement  to  the 
regency  of  Algiers  for  interrupting  our  navigation.  Of 
the  number  and  drength  of  the  corfairs,  it  is  im- 
poflible  to  give  an  accurate  datement.  Their  aftual 
force,  however,  compared,  with  that  which  the  United 
States  could  eafily  fit  out,  is  but  trifling.  To  bring 
their  whole  fhips  of  war,  at  once,  to.  a regular  engage- 
ment, never  can  be  practicable,  but  fhould  it  happen^ 
it  may  without  prefumption  be  fuppofed,  that  fifteen 
or  twenty  American  forty  gun  frigates  would  fend 
heir  navy  to  the  bottom.  When  we  reflect  on  the 
numerous  and  peculiar  incitements  which  thefe  Africans 
had,  to  commence  depredations  on  the  commerce  of 
the  United  States,  indead  of  being  furprifed  at  our 
having  differed  fo  much,  it  rather  becomes  a a objed 


( 41  ) 

of  wonder  that  we  have  fullered  fo  little.  The  lata 
alarming  intelligence  from  Lifbon  has  excited  univer- 
fal  attention  from  the  public  to  that  fubjedt,  which  may 
be  divided  into  two  quefticns.  Firft,  why,  excepting 
two  veffels,*  have  net  the  fnips  of  this  country  met  with 
any  interruption  fince  the  end  of  the  war  with  Britain? 
Second,  why  has  our  trade  now  fuffered  fg  unexpe&ed 
and  feyere  a check  ? 

In  anfwer  to  the  firft  query,  it  has,  happened,  that 
fince  the  independence  of  North- America,  the  Algerines 
have  been  conftantly  at  war,  with  the  Dutch,  or  the 
Portuguefe,  or  both  at  once;  and  as  either  of  thefe  na- 
tions is  greatly  fuperior,  in  regular  ftrength  at  fea,  to 
the  corfairs,  they  have,  hitherto,  for  the  fecurity  of  their 
own  commerce,  watched  the  entrance  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean fo  carefully,  that  the  corfairs  have  been  feldom 
able  to  get  out  of  it.  That  they  fometimes  did  fo  is 
unfortunately  certain,  frpm  the  fate  of  the  two  Ameri- 
can veffels  above-mentioned;  but,  in  general,  they  were 
fnut  up  in  the  Mediterranean,  as  in  a prifon,  without  a 
poflibility  of  extending  their  depredations  on  the  At- 
lantic ocean.  Into  the  former,  American  veffels  but 
fometimes  ventured,  and  when  they  did  fo,  they  derived 
fecurity  from  forged  or  purchafed  Mediterranean  paffes. 

A Britifh  fhip  has  for  her  prote&ion  a pafs,  which  is  * 
written  on  a large  fheet  of  parchment,  and  has,  by  way 
of  ornament,  fome  figures  or  dafhes  drawn  with  a pen, 
or  engraved  on  the  margin.  The  Algerines  cannot  • 
read  Englifh,  and  it  would  moft  likely  coft  the  captain 

* On  the  25th  of  July,  1785,  the  frhooner  Maria,  captain 
Stephens,  belonging  to  Mr.  Forfter,  of  Bofton,  was  taken  off' 
Cape  St.  Vincents,  by  an  Algerine  cruifer;  and  nve  days  after- 
wards, the  fhip  Dolphin,  captain  O’Brien, belonging  to  Meffrs 
Irvines  of  Philadelphia,  was  taken  by  another,  fifty  leagues 
weftward  of  Lisbon.  Thefe  veffels,  with  their  cargoes,  and 
crews, twenty  one  in  number,  were  carried  into  Algiers.  Of  this 
number  two  have  been  ranfomed  by  their  friends.  The  remainder 
now  reduced  by  death  to  thirteen, are  yet  fkves.  In  the  newfpa- 
pers  about  that  time,  two  or  three  other  fhips  are  reported 
as  captured,  but  upon  enquiry,  thefe  two  veffels  only  appear  to 
•Itave  been  fq. 


( 42  ) 

of  a corfair  his  head,  were  he  to  carrv  a Britifh  vefTel, 
by  miftake,  as  a prize  into  the  harbour  of  Alders. 
They  ha»ve  adopted  a fagaclous  contrivance  to  discover 
whether  fuch  paffes  are  genuine.  They  keep  a ffick 
marked  with  notches  correfponding  to  the  fhape  of  thofe 
figures,  that  are  uniformly  delineated  on  the  margin  of 
the  parchment.  When  the  pars  is  produced.their  mea- 
fure  is  applied.  In  this  way,  it  cannot  be  difficult  for 
the  mod  bungling  artift,  who  has  an  original  pafs  before 
him,  to  deceive  them,  and,  by  this  means,  it  is  faid, 
upon  reputable  authority,  that  many  veffels  have  b-=en 
preferved.  Befides,  even  in  the  Mediterranean  itfflf, 
the  progrefs  of  the  Algerines  has  been  confiderabiy 
cramped  by  the  Portuguefe  and  Dutch  fnips  of  war, 
and  both  thefe  nations,  as  well  as  the  Spaniards,  from 
a regard  to  their  own  interefl,  as  well  as  from  the  com- 
mon principles  of  juftice  and  humanity,  have  been  for- 
ward to  extend  their  protection  to  the  American  flag. 

In  anfwer  to  the  fecond  query,  this  protection  has, 
at  prefent  been  fufpended,  becaufe  a ceffation  of  hoftili- 
ties  has  taken  place  between  Holland  and  Portugal  on 
the  one  fide,  and  the  regency  of  Algiers  on  the  other. 
Spain,  at  the  fame  time,  has  been  engaged  in  the  gene- 
ral confpiracy  of  the  Domitians  and  Caligulas  of  Eu- 
rope, againlt  the  republic  of  France  ; and  as  this  coun- 
try has  contracted  the  guilt  of  becoming  a free  nation, 
we  likewife  are  involved,  though,  as  yet , but  at  fecond 
hand,  in  the  vengeance  of  the  imperial  and  royal  Van- 
dals. The  corfairs  of  Barbary  are  now  at  liberty  to 
attack  the  veffels  of  the  United  States,  not  only  in  the 
Mediterranean,  but  alfq  in  the  Atlantic  ocean.  From 
the  final  eftablifhment  of  American  independence,  fome 
attempts  are  reported  to  have  been  made  by  the 
American  government,  to  conclude  a pacification 
with  the  ftate  of  Algiers,  but  for  fome  reafon  or  other, 
thefe  attempts  have  hitherto  proved  unfuccefsful.  The 
circumftances  which  have  always  difappointed  the  pa- 
cific defign-  of  our  adminiftration,  deferve  to  be  invef- 
tigated  ; but  before  we  proceed  to  that  fubjeCl,  it  may 
not  be  improper  to.  ftate  in  a few  words  the  fituation  of 
this  country,  with  reipect  to  the  emperor  of  Morocco* 


C 43  ) 

A treaty  of  peace  and  commerce  between  that  prince 
and  America,  having  been  concluded  by  the  agency  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Barclay,  was  ratified  by  Congrefs  ar  New- 
York,  on  the  1 8th  of  July,  1 787.  It  confids  of  twenty 
five  articles.  Want  of  room  prevents  its  infertion  en- 
tire in  this  place,  but  the  third  and  fifth  claufes  merit  at 
this  junfture,  the  moft  particular  attention;  and  are  in 
thefe  words. 

Art.  III.  If  either  of  the  parties  jhall  be  at  'near  ’with 
any  nation  whatever,  and  take  a prize  belonging  to  that  na- 
tion, and  there  fall  be  found  on  board  fubjccis  or  e feel's 
belonging  to  either  of  the  parties , the  fubjcch  fall  be  fet  at 
liberty , and  the  effects  returned  to  the  owners.  And  if 
any  goods , belonging  to  any  nation , with  whom  either  of  the 
parties  fall  be  at  war,  fall  be  loaded  in  vejfels  belonging  to 
the  other  party,  they  (ball  pafs  free  and  unmoleffed,  with- 
out any  attempt  being  made  to  take  or  detain  them. 

Art.  V.  If  either  of  the  parties  fall  be  at  war,  and 
meet  a vejfel  at  fea  belonging  to  the  other,  it  is  agreed  that  if 
an  examination  is  to  be  made,  it  fall  be  done  by  fending  a 
boat  with  two  or  three  men  only,  and  if  any  gun  fall  be 
fired , and  injury  done  without  reafon , the  offending  party 
fall  make  good  all  damages. 

The  twenty-fifth,  and  lafi:  article  is  in  thefe  words': 
'This  treaty  fail  continue  in  full  force,  with  the  help  of  God, 
for  fifty  years . A moft  definable  event. 

Let  us  compare  the  tenor  of  this  treaty,  which  remains 
unviolated,  with  the  prefent  conduct  of  Britain,  of 
Ruffia,  and  of  Spain,  towards  the  United  States  of 
America.  We  fhall  then  be  convinced,  that  in  a cen- 
tral! with  the  fiovereigns  of  thefe  three  nations,  the  em- 
peror of  Morocco  is  a monarch  of  juftice  and  hu- 
manity. 

Several  of  our  late  letters  from  Lifbon  agree  in  affiert- 
ing,  that  the  prefent  peace  or  truce  between  Algiers 
and  Portugal  has  been  formed  by  the  officious  inter- 
vention of  England,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  lat- 
ter. The  fame  advices  add,  and  their  information  is 
univerfally  believed,  that  this  has  been  done  by  England, 
that  the  corfairs  of  Barbary  might  have  liberty  to  in- 
terrupt the  commerce  of  this  country  with  Europe* 


Since  the  commencement  of  the  unfortunate  war,  that 
now  fpreads  defolatioh  and  bankruptcy  over  fo  many 
countries,  in  that  quarter  of  the  world,  American  bot- 
toms, becaufe  they  were  iieutral,  obtained  the  prefer- 
ence to  thofe  of  England  in  the  carrying  trade.  They 
were  not  liable  to  be  feized  by  French  privateers , and  could, 
therefore, unmolefted,  tranfport  the 'commodities  of  any- 
one country  to  any  other.  This  advanrage  gave  our 
veffels  a decided  fuperiority  ; and  the  matter  of  an 
American  fhip  frequently  received  twenty  per  cent, 
more  for  the  fame  freight,  than  would  be  given  to  the 
matter  of  an  Englilh  vettel.  This  humiliating  dittinc- 
tion  alarmed  the  pride  of  the  Englifn  nation.  Diverted 
of  the  carrying  trade,  the  naval  defpotifm  of  England 
would  at  once  fhrink  into  nothing.  The  powers  of 
Europe  may  reduce  her  to  the  natural  level  of  her  im- 
portance, without  the  expenfe  of  firing  a fmgle  gun. 
Let  them  declare,  that  no  vettel  of  that  country  (hall 
bring  into  their  harbours,  any  commodities  but  thole 
of  Britilh  growth  or  manufacture.  Eler  navy,  which 
has  perpetrated  fuch  i need  ant  mifehief.  would  then,  if 
I may  borrow  the  trite  quotation  from  Shakefpeare,  va- 
nifh,  like  the  bafelefs  fabric  of  a vijion. 

The  Americans, for  fome  time  part, have  been  making 
rapid  ttrides  towards  her  expultton  from  the  Carrying 
trade.  England  could  hardly  venture,  at  this  crirts, 
to  add  a fecond  republic  to  the  catalogue  of  her  enemies. 
She  has,  therefore,  adopted  the  miferable  expedient  of 
turning  loofe  the  Algerines,  that  thefe  execrable  ruffians 
fnight  plunder  our  property,  and  plunge  our  fellow-ci- 
tizens into  flavery. 

Lord  Sheffield,  in  a pamphlet  which  has  obtained 
more  notice  than  it  deferved,  informs  the  Englifh  na- 
tion, “ That  it  will  not  be  the  intereft  of  any  of  the 
“ great  maritime  powers,  to  protect  the  American  vef- 
i(  fels  from  the  Barbary  ftates.”  This  benevolent 
remark  has  received  a proper  anfwer  from  the  author 
of  <c  Obfervations”  on  his  lordlhip’s  pamphlet.  The 
moderation  of  rtile,  the  candour  of  reafoning,  and  the 
unquertioned  authenticity  of  the  facts  advanced  by  Mr. 
Coxe,  deferve,  in  an  uncommon  degree,  the  attention'* 
and  the  gratitude  of  his  countryman 


( 45  ) * 

The  public  have  juft  been  informed  of  a Tefolaltofr 
pafied  by  Copgrefs.  A naval  force  is  to  be  fitted  out 
adequate  to  the  protection  of  our  commerce  againfi: 
the  Algerines  ; or  to  fpeak  with  propriety,  agaip.lt  the 
African  emijfaries  of  England.  It  is  not  impoilible  that 
the  bufinefs  "will  end  by  a trip  to  the  Eahama  illands. 
They  contain  a gang  of  pirates,  who  deferve  a gibbet 
(till  better  than  the  difciples  of  Barbarofla. 

Th?  following  lines  are  extraSled  from  a “ Poem  on  the  happi- 
riefs  of  America,5'  by  colonel  Humphrey  • We  cannot  agree 
■with  this  ■ writer , that  Britain  is  the  “ Firft  cf  nations,  and 
“ the  queen  of  ifles  or  that  the  Algerines  are  the  “ feeblefl” 
of  men.  Tet,  upon  the  whole,  thefe  verfes  are  fpirited  and 
poetical » 

HOW  long  will  heav'n  reftrain  its  burfting  ire. 

Nor  rain  blue  tempefts  of  devouring  fire? 

How  long  fliall  widows  weep  their  Ions  in  vain, 

The  prop  of  years  in  flav’ry’s  iron  chain  ? 

How  long  the  'ove-fick  maid,  unheeded,  rove 

The  founding  fhore,  and  call  her  ahlent  love  ; 

With  wafting  tears  and  fighshis  lot  bewail. 

And  feem  to  fee  him  in  each  coming  fail  ? 

How  long  the  merchant  turn  his  failing  eyes, 

In  defperation,  on  the  Teas  and  flues. 

And  afk  his  captur’d  fhips,  his  ravifh’d  goods, 

With  frantic  ravings,  of  the  heav’ns  and  floods? 

& m 

How  long,  Columbians  dear  1 will  ye  complain 
Of  thefe  curft  infill ts  on  the  open  main  ? 

In  timid  Qoth,  fhall  injur’d  brav’ry  fleep? 

Awake  ! awake  ! avengers  cf  the  deep  ! 

Revenge  ! revenge  ! the  voice  of  nature  cries’; 

Awake  to  glory,  and  to  vengeance  rife  ! 

To  arms  ! to  arms  ! ye  bold  indignant  bands  ? 

’Tis  heav’n  inlpires-  ’tis  God  himfelf  commands' 

Save  human  nature  from  fucli  deadly  harms, 

By  force  of  reafon,  or  by  force  of  arms. 

O ye  great  powers,  who  paffports  bafely  crave. 

From  Afric’s  lords  to  fail  the  midland  wave — 

Great  fallen  pcw’rs,  whofe  gems  and  golden  bribes 
Buy  paltry  paffports  from  thefe  favage  tribes — 

Ye,  whole  fine  purples,  filks,and  fluffs  of  gold 
{An  annual  tributej  their  dark  limbs  infold — 


< ) 

*«,  whofe  mean  policy  for  them  equips, 

To  plague  mankind,  the  predatory  (hips — — 

Why  will  you  buy  your  infamy  fo  dear  ? 

Is  it  feTf-int’reft,  or  a daftard  fear  ? 

Is  it  becaufe  ye  meanly  think  to  gain 
A richer  commerce  on  th’  i-.fefted  main? 

Is  it  becaule  ye  meanly  v/iih  to  fee 

Your  rivals  chain’d,  yourfelves  ignobly  free? 

Who  gave  commillions  to  thefe  mrmfters  fierce. 

To  hold  in  chains  the  humbled  univerfe  ? 

Would  God, would  nature, won  d their  conqu’ring  fwords^ 
Without  your  meannefs,  make  them  ocean’s  lords? 

What  ! Do  you  fear  ? nor  dare  their  power  provoke? 
Would  not  that  bubble  burft  beneath  your  ftroke? 

And  (hall  the  weak  remains  of  barb’rous  rage, 

Infulting,  triumph  o’er  th’  enlighten’d  age  ? 

Do  ye  not  fi-el  confufion,  horror,  Uiame, 

To  bear  a hateful,  tributary  name  ? 

Will  ye  not  aid  to  wipe  the  foul  difgrace, 

And  break  the  fetters  from  the  .unian  race  ? 

Then,  though  unaided  by  hole  migh'y  powers. 

Ours  be  the  tod  ; the  danger,  glory  ours  : 

1 hen,  O my  friends,  by  hea/’n  ordain’d  to  ree, 

From  tyrant  rage,  the  long  inteft^d  fea — 

Then  let  trail  rm,  though  folitary,  fraud, 

The  fvvord,  and  olive  branch  in  either  hand  : 

An  equal  peace  propofe  with  reafon’s  voice, 

Or  rufh  to  arms,  if  arms  lliould  be  their  choice. 

Stung  by  their  crimes,  can  aught  your  vengeance  flay  ? 
Can  terror  daunt  you  ? or  can  death  difmay  ? 

The  foul  enrag’d,  can  threats,  can  tortures  tame, 

Or  the  dark  dungeon  quench  th’etherial  flame? 

Have  ye  not  once  to  heav’n’s  dread  throne  appeal’d. 
And  has  not  heav’n  your  independence  feal’d  ? 

What  was  the  power  ye  dar’d  that  time  engage. 

And  brave  the  terrors  of  its  hoftile  rage  ? 

Was  it  not  Britain,  great  in  warlike  coils. 

The  firft  of  nations,  as  the  queen  of  ifles — 

Britain,  whofe  fleets,  that  rul’d  the  briny  furge, 

Made  navies  tremble  to  its  utmoA  verge, 

Whofe  Angle  arm  held  ha'f  the  world  at  odds, 

Great  nurfe  of  fages,  bards,  and  demigods  ! 

But  what  are  thefe  whofe  threat’nings  round  you  burft; 
Of  men  the  dregs,  the  feebleft,  vileft,  worft  ; 

Thefe.  are  the  pirates  from  the  Barb’ry  ftrand. 
Audacious  mifereants,  fierce,  yet  feeble  band! 

Who,  impious,  dare  (no  provocation  giv’n) 

Jnfult  the  rights  of  man — the  laws  of  heav’n  I 


